ENGL 2316

What does it mean to live in an increasingly interconnected world? In such a world, how can one country form its own literary identity? These questions loomed large for the people of Britain during the medieval and Renaissance periods, who were grappling with rapid social change, the aftermath of a global pandemic, and a fraught political and economic landscape. In this course, we will consider these questions through surveying a broad selection of medieval and Renaissance literary works. Through these texts, we will explore such topics as the fate of the soul, the power of language, desire and romance, exploration, justice, and the supernatural.