This second half of this course continues with the literature of Continental Europe, taking up with the early medieval period and proceeding through the European Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Early Modern Period, on up to New World colonization. The course will emphasize anl approach that is best suited to Chinese students of Western languages and literatures: the religious and secular writers of the Middle Ages, European storytelling and legends, the chivalric tradition, the poetry of the sonnet writers, the ballad culture, the classic works of the Italian and Northern European Renaissance, including both creative and philosophical writings, the essay genre, the book of manners, the mystery play, the allegory, and the satire. All of these works will be explored regarding the evolution of the Indo-European languages; Western concepts of self, other, home, identity, family, nation, state, and justice, divinity, mythology, etc.

Students will engage a series of readings from the primary text while instructor provides lecture and other material explaining background of and reflecting significance on the reading materials/topic areas. Students must present questions during class time relative to issues that they need to clarify and understand within the reading. Students will write a literary essay based on course readings. Quizzes, discussion, study questions, midterm and final exam.

The Norton Anthology of Western Literature. Vol 1. Ed. Martin Puchner, et. al. 9th
Edition. New York : W. W. Norton & Company, 2014.