Studies in Medieval Literature

An introduction to the theory and practice of editing medieval manuscripts written between the eleventh and the sixteenth century.  The primary material will be manuscripts housed in the Bancroft Library, although projects using microfilm and facsimiles of manuscripts found elsewhere may be undertaken.  A systematic introduction to codicology, paleography, and textual criticism will be provided.   The course is intended to give students access to the history of the medieval book, the basic skills for manuscript research, and a familiarity with current issues of interpretation.  Among the topics that will be covered are the economic and social implications of production practices, the construction of the author and the reader, the history of reading, and gender and patronage.  There will be exercises in paleography, oral reports, and a substantial research paper consisting of a sample edition of the text on which the student chooses to work.  Students specializing in any of the Romance languages, English, or Latin are welcome as long as they can read the medieval stage of their language of specialization.  Because of the nature of the material, enrollment is limited.  Interested students should consult with the instructor in advance (joed@berkeley.edu).