Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE ENG2108

 
TITLE English Literature and Music I

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL Not Applicable

 
ECTS CREDITS 2

 
DEPARTMENT English

 
DESCRIPTION The following will be reviewed: Rhythm as found in nature as the basis of speech, song, etc. Poetry of the Middle Ages (Beowulf). Plainsong, Tropes, the Lais (Lay). Influence of Troubadour Music and poetry on Minstrelsy in England. The pioneering work of Ruteboeuf leading to the first important examples of the clear separation of music and word. Italian influences on English Literature and Music (Boccacio and the poets of the “dolce stil nuovo”, the madrigals of Landini) Chaucer (Troilus, Parliament of Fowles and The Canterbury Tales). 15th Century England starts to take the lead (Dunstable). The carol. The Franciscan influence (contrafacta). The Elizabethan Madrigal.

Study-unit Aims:

- Integrating English Literature with specialized comparative studies in Music;
- Cover a variety of literature and music spanning a broad range of periods, cultures and themes.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to develop critical reading and writing skills and learning to recognize literature with music.

2. Skills

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to able to develop advanced academic skills including critical analysis, interpretation and research.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Economou, G. ed. Proensa: an Anthology of Troubadour Poetry
- Topsfield, L.T., Troubadour and Love
- Lindsay, J., The Troubadour and their World of the 12th & 13th Centuries
- Cosign, P.J., Notes on Beowulf
- Earle, J. ed., The deeds of Beowulf: an English epic of the 8th Century done in modern Prose
- McGlee, T.J., Mediaeval and Renaissance Music
- Douglas, W., Church Music in History and Practice
- Beck, J.B., La Musique des Troubadours
- Thrasy Bulos, G., The Rise of Western Music as exemplified in the settings of the Mass
- Cooper, H., The Oxford Guide to the Canterbury Tales
- Godden, M. & Lapridge, M.ed The Cambridge Companion to Old English Literature
- Kane, G., Chaucer to Langland
- Stevens, J., Words and Music in the Middle Ages
- Mellers, W., Harmonious Meeting
- Chapman, P., The Treatment of Sounds in Language and Literature
- Wright, H.B., Boccaccio in England.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (1 Hour) SEM1 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Maria Frendo

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit