History B352

Instructions for Papers

 

Note that you are to write three of the five papers.  Specific reading assignments and comments on each text can be found below.

 

For each book, write an essay which addresses the following question:

 

What can a historian learn from this text about the roles, both expected and actual, of men and women in society?  How are they supposed to act?  How do they act?  You might include consideration of marriage traditions, education of boys and girls, personal qualities that are admired or despised in both men and women, religious functions of men and women, etc.  Do any things that you read surprise you? 

 

You should consider, if appropriate, what biases or problems there might be with the text, so that the picture it presents might not be complete or accurate.  For example, do you come away with a picture of all levels of society, or only of one class or subgroup?  Be sure to include specific examples (quotes are a good idea) from the text to explain each of your points.

 

Don't be afraid of including your own opinions about what is in the book; the purpose of the exercise is to make you react to the book and what it is about.

 

Essays should be typed/word processed, if possible, and should be of a length equivalent to 3-4 double-spaced pages, with settings of 1 inch margins (top, bottom, and sides) and twelve-point font.

 

When you quote or paraphrase any part of any written text, either these books or any other published material, you must provide the appropriate reference, either in footnotes or endnotes.  Failure to provide adequate references is considered plagiarism, for which the university has severe penalties.  If you have any question about your use of sources, it is better to be on the safe side and provide a reference.

 

 

Paper 1 (due Mar. 21)

 

The Poem of the Cid - read the entire poem (in English, of course - or Spanish if you wish!)

The action here takes place in Spain; the Cid was a real warrior and nobleman who lived c. 1043-1099.  He was so famous that poems were written about him before his death; the one we are reading was written c. 1201-7, thus a century after his death, by which time his exploits were taking on the qualities of legend.

 

Paper 2 (due Mar. 28)

 

Letters of Abelard and Heloise - read pp. 3-210 ???

Abelard and Heloise were the most famous real-life lovers of the Middle Ages.  In addition to having a tumultuous love-life (described in the first letter, the Historia Calamitatum), they were also each extremely well-educated and well-respected scholars in the context of the twelfth-century renaissance.  The letters between them, which may or may not be genuine (if you want to learn abuot the allegations of forgery or of a single author, see the introduction), were written after the pair separated and entered religious life.  Many of them are concerned with scholarly attitudes to women in religion. 

 

Paper 3 (due April 4)

 

The Life of Christina of Markyate

Christina of Markyate lived c. 1096-1160.  She was born into a well-to-do family, and was being pressured into marriage when he renounced the world and became a nun.  This Life was written before her death; it ends in 1142.  As an example of hagiography (writing about saints), you should consider its purpose and biases as you read.  Interestingly, a book of Psalms made for Christina survives; you can view it, if you like, at: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/stalbanspsalter/english/index.shtml

 

Paper 4 (due April 18)

 

Montaillou: The Promised Land of Error, by Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie - read pp. vii-xvii, 1-88, 139-276, and 306-326 (you may, of course, read more).

This is not a primary source, although it contains large numbers of quotations from one.  Ladurie has written a book describing life in the village of Montaillou based on the transcripts of an Inquisition inquiry into the beliefs of the members of this village.  The transcripts included interviews with many members of the village, and give an amazing amount of detail about their lives.  In the book, you will see quotations from the Inquisition records in italics; you should pay especial attention to these when you are writing your essay.

 

Paper 5 (due April 25)

 

The Paston Letters - read pp. 1-26, 31-38, 46-55, 70-72, 86-94, 111-141, 164-188, 202-3, 240-241

This a letter collection from one family that lived in England in the mid to late fifteenth century.  Most of the letters are between family members, both women and men.  The selection I have made is fairly random, but I have tried to include most of the letters written by the women of the family.  Do note that there is a glossary at the back of the book, for words that you don't understand.