Accessibility statement

Middle English: Texts and Contexts - LAN00068I

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  • Department: Language and Linguistic Science
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Ellie Rye
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module summary

In this module, you’ll explore variation and change in Middle English – the varieties of English used between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries CE. One key focus of this module is placing Middle English in its sociohistorical contexts to explore the interplay between social change and language variation and change. You’ll consider how historical events affected the use and structure of English in the late medieval period, when English was one of a number of languages used in a multilingual society. You’ll also explore how contact with other languages relates to geographical, social and stylistic variation in Middle English. The other key focus of this module is reading texts in Middle English. Through seminars focused on reading Middle English texts, you’ll develop skills in reading Middle English texts from a wide variety of times and places and in analyzing them from a linguistic perspective.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

This module will allow students to develop their knowledge of variation and change in Middle English. The module aims:

  • to provide students with an understanding of how historical events and social changes affected the use and structure of English between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries;

  • to provide students with an understanding of the linguistic characteristics of Middle English as used in different times, places and (where possible) by different social groups;

  • to develop students’ awareness of the different resources that can be used to read, translate and analyze Middle English texts;

  • to give students practice in reading, translating and analyzing Middle English texts;

  • to provide opportunities for investigating variation and change in Middle English

  • to develop students’ independent research skills.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • read and translate Middle English texts from different times and places with the help of dictionaries and annotated editions;

  • identify features that characterize the varieties of Middle English used in different times and places and in different stylistic contexts;

  • explain how variation and change in Middle English relate to major sociohistorical changes in medieval England;

  • identify appropriate scholarly resources for investigating Middle English from a linguistic angle, and synthesize information from these resources accurately;

  • be able to communicate the findings of research into Middle English texts clearly and effectively to an academic audience.

Module content

This module will introduce you to variation and change in Middle English. Lectures will introduce key historical events affecting both late medieval English society and the use and structure of English in the late medieval period. You’ll learn about how language contact affected English both before and during the Middle English period and consider the place of language contact – alongside language-internal factors -- in the changes that took place in English during the late medieval period. Lectures will also introduce some of the variants that characterize Middle English as used in different geographical and social contexts.

The other key focus of this module is reading texts in Middle English. Seminars will focus on reading and translating Middle English texts with the help of dictionaries and annotated editions. Alongside this, you’ll analyze texts from a linguistic perspective by applying your knowledge of variation and change in Middle English to the texts you’re reading. By the end of the module, you should be able to apply your knowledge of the characteristics of Middle English(es) from different times and places to make informed suggestions about where and when any Middle English text could have been written.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled)
Closed exam : Middle English: Texts and Contexts		 2 hours 50
Essay/coursework
Project		 N/A 50

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Reassessment

None

Module feedback

Students will receive regular feedback on their translation and analysis of set texts in seminars. In addition, students will receive feedback on two pieces of formative work in preparation for summative assessments as follows:

  1. Exam preparation: students will submit a sample text translation and commentary in week 6; students will receive written feedback on this within twenty-five working days;

  2. Project preparation: students will give a five-minute presentation presenting their project plans and a sample of their linguistic analysis in week 9; students will receive written feedback within 10 working days.

Students will receive written feedback on summative assignments within twenty-five working days.

Indicative reading

Benskin, M., Laing, M., Karaiskos, V., & Williamson, K. (2013–). An electronic version of a linguistic atlas of Late Mediaeval English [Electronic database]. University of Edinburgh. Online at: http://www.lel.ed.ac.uk/ihd/elalme/elalme.html.

Burrow, J. A., & Turville-Petre, T. (2020). A book of Middle English (4th ed.). Wiley.

Horobin, S. (2013). Chaucer's language (2nd ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.

Corrie, M. (2012). Middle English dialects and diversity. In L. Mugglestone (Ed.), The Oxford History of English (updated ed., pp. 106–146). Oxford University Press.

Fulk, R. D. (2017). An introduction to Middle English (corrected ed.). Broadview.

Horobin, S., & Smith, J. (2002). An introduction to Middle English. Edinburgh University Press.

Laing, M. (2013–). A linguistic atlas of Early Middle English, 1150–1325, Version 3.2 [Electronic database]. University of Edinburgh. Online at: http://www.lel.ed.ac.uk/ihd/laeme2/laeme2.html.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.