English 520

Chaucer
MWF 11:30-22:20, TLC 246
Professor: Rick Fehrenbacher
Office: 202 Brink Phone: 885-5563
Office Hours: TR 12:30-3:30, by appointment
Email: fehrenba@uidaho.edu
Class Wiki URL: https://english520.pbworks.com/

Required Texts:
The Riverside Chaucer
Readings—handouts or posted on class wiki

Class Requirements:
14 Weekly Reading Responses posted on wiki-- at least 400 words each week.
(40%)
One 15-20 page paper (40%)
Classroom Participation (20%)

Attendance:
Regular attendance in this class is essential; most of the readings build upon
each other, so missing a class on, say, The Miller’s Tale will put you at a
disadvantage for the rest of the semester. Your grade will suffer significantly for
every absence (excused or unexcused) after the third.

Syllabus

Week One

Wednesday, January 13 . . . Introduction

Friday, January 15 . . . Chaucer’s Life and Times

Week Two

Monday, January 18 . . . No Class--MLK Day

Wednesday, January 20 . . . Language and Versification

Friday, January 22. . . Chaucer Criticism

Reading Response 1 Due

Week Three

Monday, January 25 . . . The General Prologue

Wednesday, January 27 . . . The General Prologue

Friday, January 29 . . . The General Prologue

Reading Response 2 Due

Week Four

Monday, February 1 . . . The Knight’s Tale

Wednesday, February 3 . . . The Knight’s Tale

Friday, February 5 . . . The Knight’s Tale

Reading Response 3 Due

Week Five

Monday, February 8 . . . The Miller’s Tale

Wednesday, February 10 . . . The Miller’s Tale

Friday, February 12 . . . The Reeve’s Tale The Cook’s Tale

Reading Response 4 Due

Week Six

Monday, February 15 . . . No Class—President’s Day

Wednesday, February 17 . . . The Man of Law’s Tale

Friday, February 19 . . . The Man of Law’s Tale

Reading Response 5 Due

Week Seven

Monday, February 22 . . . The Wife of Bath’s Prologue

Wednesday, February 24 . . . The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale

Friday, February 26 . . . The Wife of Bath’s Tale

Reading Response 6 Due

Week Eight

Monday, March 1 . . .The Friar’s Tale

Wednesday, March 3 . . . The Summoner’s Tale

Friday, March 5 . . . The Clerk’s Tale

Reading Response 7 Due

Week Nine

Monday, March 8 . . . The Clerk’s Tale

Wednesday, March 10 . . . The Merchant’s Tale

Friday, March 12 . . . The Merchant’s Tale

Reading Response 8 Due

Week Ten
Spring Break

Week Eleven

Monday, March 22 . . . The Squire’s Tale

Wednesday, March 24 . . . The Franklin’s Tale

Friday, March 26 . . . The Franklin’s Tale

Reading Response 9 Due

Week Twelve

Monday, March 29 . . . The Pardoner’s Prologue

Wednesday, March 31 . . . The Pardoner’s Tale

Friday, April 2 . . . The Pardoner’s Tale

Reading Response 10 Due

Week Thirteen

Monday, April 5 . . . The Shipman’s Tale

Wednesday, April 7 . . . The Shipman’s Tale

Friday, April 9 . . . The Prioress’ Tale

Reading Response 11 Due

Week Fourteen
Monday, April 12 . . . The Prioress’ Tale

Wednesday, April 14 . . . The Tale of Sir Thopas

Friday, April 16 . . . The Tale of Melibee; The Monk’s Tale

Reading Response 12 Due

Week Fifteen

Monday, April 19 . . . The Nun’s Priest’s Tale

Wednesday, April 21 . . . The Nun’s Priest’s Tale

Friday, April 23 . . . The Second Nun’s Tale

Reading Response 13 Due

Week Sixteen

Monday, April 26 . . . The Canon’s Yeoman’s Tale

Wednesday, April 28 . . . The Manciple’s Tale

Friday, April 30. . . The Manciple’s Tale

Reading Response 14 Due

Week Seventeen

Monday, May 3 . . . The Parson’s Tale and the Retraction

Wednesday, May 5 . . .

Friday, May 7 . . .

Final Paper Due