This course has two goals. First, we will acquaint ourselves with some of the major works of literature from the English Middle Ages, with texts dating from the Old and Middle English periods (7thc.-c. 1400). Second, we will explore how these texts have been represented on the small and big screen, through watching clips as well as complete films and TV episodes.
In addition to reading primary medieval texts in Old and Middle English (no worries, we’ll use translations when necessary!), we’ll read seminal texts in adaptation theory and medievalism, attempting to understand what attracted modern filmmakers to medieval literature and history in the first place and what concerns – artistic, political, social, religious, etc. – made them represent it in the ways that they did.
Thursday 3:00-6:00 pm
Spring 2026
Dr. Alison Gulley
ENG 5810: Medieval Literature: Manuscript to Screen
ENG 5810: Medieval Literature: Manuscript to Screen