UCL Medieval and Renaissance Studies

UCL Medieval and Renaissance Studies

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Conflict and Cohesion: Jews and Christians in Medieval Literature

Code: HEBRG150

Credits: 20 (For MARS)

Seminars: NOTE: This course will take place on Tuesdays 2 - 4 PM, fortnightly (i.e. every other week) over Terms 1 and 2, beginning in Week 2 of the first term of teaching (namely, on: 04 & 18 Oct; 01 & 22 Nov; 06 Dec; 10 & 24 Jan; 07 & 28 Feb; 13 Mar)

Under the tutelage of a spectrum of area and genre experts, we shall closely read and critically analyze Jewish and Christian medieval religious and secular literature (in translation), alongside art and music, so as to explore how the self-identity and the development of each group crystallized in relation to and differentiation from the other, how each group conceived of the other, and how the two groups lived and thought side-by-side. Each meeting will contain side-by-side comparison of Jewish and Christian literature by genre, geographical region, and / or date. In light of the Jewish origins of Christianity and the Jewish status as a minority amongst a Christian majority, we will explore mutual attitudes of ambiguity, hostility, and resonance, as well as mutual phenomena of acculturation, translation, and crossover, in the mentalities, literature, and lives of the two groups. Our focus will be on major geographical locations, cultural elements, and topics relevant to the Christians and Jews of the Latin West. In addition to working on the skills of close reading and critical analysis, students will enhance their ability to look at issues from multiple perspectives, and will gain appreciation of the usefulness and limitations of cross-religious comparisons.

In addition to class meetings:

*Special manuscript session at the British Library;

*Seminars featuring student presentations.

Assessment: 2 essays of c. 2.000 words each

Tutor: Convened by Dr Israel M Sandman, Multiple Instructors

Time: This course will take place on Tuesdays 2.00 - 4.00 p.m. fortnightly (i.e. every other week) over Terms 1 and 2, beginning in the second week of the first term (namely, on: 04 & 18 Oct; 01 & 22 Nov; 06 Dec; 10 & 24 Jan; 07 & 28 Feb; 13 Mar)