The Ottoman Empire (Dr. Steve Rosenthal)

For Monday's blog - read the selection on Ottoman history (the pages are continuous, not cut off, just scroll down in the pdf document and the next page shall appear) and speak about two things of interest.

Also - try to come with a question for Professor Rosenthal.

THE DECAMERON - THE MOVIE

Here is the Andreuccio story from the "Decameron" film I mentioned briefly in class - there are no subtitles but you know the story and can follow along nonetheless!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LfDrDSgXZw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAIUCSJnCQA

Dr. Maria Frank's Lecture on Italian Culture

Please read Dr. Frank's essay sent to you via email ("Dante's Muhammad") and write about one topic that you find interests you in her discussion.
Also - come with a question to ask Dr. Frank in class.

The Decameron - Day Two

As with last Wednesday, please bring up topics from at least two of the stories that tie in to overarching themes we have discussed over the semester.
In addition - please bring one question to class to share in the discussion.

The Decameron - Day One

For today's readings, focus on a theme that you feel speaks to aspects of the Mediterranean culture/s we've discussed over the semester - travel, religion, ethnicity, education, love, trade, etc. How does this theme manifest itself in the stories? Why? Speak about specific scenes within the text to support your analysis.

Book of Good Love (the movie) - who knew?

Travel Literature (Dr. Amanda Walling)

Please consider both questions forwarded by Dr. Walling for your blog posting:

Travel around the Mediterranean world in the Middle Ages and Renaissance was driven by several factors, including trade, warfare, and religious pilgrimages. For Monday's class, we'll be looking at two very different travel accounts by travelers from England who made their way to the Mediterranean. Margery Kempe (c. 1373-c. 1440) was a rather eccentric English mystic, an ordinary wife, mother, and businesswoman who began experiencing religious visions. As you read about her pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Rome, think especially about the importance of physical space--what does it mean to a woman like Kempe to be in a place where something sacred happened long ago? Think also about the travel itself--a pilgrimage like Kempe's would have taken many months; what does she emphasize about her journey? Is it just about getting to her destination or are there valuable spiritual and cultural experiences along the way?

Our other readings are from the Travels of Sir John Mandeville, a French book that claims to have been written by an English knight who traveled in Egypt, the Middle East, India, and China between 1332 and 1366. We can't be sure if he was the real author, or even how many of these places the author actually visited; he relies heavily on legends and magical tales. When you read Mandeville's account, think especially about how he describes foreign cultures (especially non-Christian ones), and about the kinds of details he thinks are worth sharing about foreign lands. In his stories, what is the appeal of the world beyond Western Europe for readers who would never see it?

Book of Good Love (Libro de buen amor) - DAY TWO

1. What do you make of the "Mountain Girls" section? What do these girls represent? If we read the text as a journey of the human soul or condition, how then do you read this part of the text?

2. How do you interpret the battle between Carnal and Lent? What does this have to say about human desire / nature? About the human begin as an image of the divine?

3. Feel free to bring up any other aspect of the text that interests you.

Book of Good Love (Libro de buen amor) - DAY ONE

Please answer at least two questions or come up with your own topics and analyses for discussion.

1. Prologues are always important in medieval literature. Here we have two, one in verse and one in prose. Examine them both and write about what you think are the main themes here. How do these themes relate to the text as a whole (or at least what you have read for today)?

2. The author properly "begins" the text with the fable of the Greeks and Romans. Apart from the comedy (which I hope you enjoy), there is a serious message here concerning reading, interpretation (and more). How do you 'read' this fable?

3. What is the portrayal of Love (Don Amor) in this text (as opposed to or in conjunction with what we saw in the poetry we have studied)? Why do you think this is the case? (If you want, do a "close reading" of one of the fables presented in the "tirade against love" to help in your answer.)

4. Focus on the "code of love" presented by Love to the Archpriest - specifically upon the woman he verbally paints here. What do you make of the fact that the Archpriest states that such a woman does not exist and yet he will continue to compose poetry? (Or, how might desire, the image, and poetic language / expression be connected?)

5. Why do you think there is such an emphasis upon fables in the text? What does a fable do? How does one have to read a fable? How might the use of fables comment upon the text as a whole (how much they get right to what the author is trying to do here)? Choose one or more fables to illustrate your point.

Songs of Holy Mary (Cantigas de Santa Maria)

If you are interested in hearing more of these Cantigas, just search for them on Youtube under the Spanish name (Cantigas de Santa Maria) - there are a lot that have been uploaded.

More about Occitan

You can read more about Occitan (the language of the troubadours and trobairitz) here if interested:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occitan_language

http://www.omniglot.com/writing/occitan.htm

And here are some useful phrases in Occitan:

http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/occitan.php

Occitan is even one of the languages Google supports:

https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=oc

(SEE BELOW FOR WEDNESDAY'S ASSIGNMENT AND MORE TROUBADOUR SONGS VIA YOUTUBE)

Songs of Holy Mary (Cantigas de Santa Maria)

For today's reading, please do a "close reading" of at least two of the narrative songs (meaning the songs that tell a story). What themes do you find in these songs that you deem important? Why? How do these themes manifest themselves within the plot? What is the role of Mary in the song? What political / social / religious commentary do you see in these songs?

Feel free to bring up anything else you find interesting / intriguing about these songs.

Comtessa de Die - "A chantar m'er de so"

Bernard de Ventadour - "Can vei la lauzeta mover / When I see the lark flying"

Troubadour / Trobairitz Poetry

For today's blog, please choose two poems (one by a troubadour and one by a trobairitz) and speak about the important themes / images each text raises.

Also - do you see similarities or fundamental differences between these poems? Can we say there is definite "gendering" of the poetry going on here?

Arabic Poetry

I have placed the readings for Wednesday (two attachments) on Blackboard under "Readings" - (1) "Hispano-Arabic Poetry" and (2) "The Dove's Necklace."

You can get some background information on Ibn Hazm, author of "The Dove's Necklace" and some of the poetry you'll read, on Wikipedia here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Hazm

Read both and I would like you to address two things:

1) Address two themes / ideas raised Ibn Hazm's "The Dove's Necklace" that interest you. How do these themes relate to the overall ideas of love that you find in this reading.

2) How do the themes raised in "The Dove's Necklace" carry over into the poetry? Address at least two specific poems.

Your responses should involve, as always, a short cohesive argument. Feel free to bring up anything else you deem important in your discussion.

Islamic Art

Dr. Fran Altvater will come and speak to the class the Monday after spring break on Islamic Art.

She has asked that you take a look at this website and read both the "History" and "Art" sections for the "Early Islamic Period," "Early Medieval Period" and "Late Medieval Period."

http://www.lacma.org/islamic_art/islamic.htm

For your blog posting, please comment on the ways in which certain cultures borrow from other cultures - why, how, etc.

Also - come up with a question that you can ask Professor Altvater.

Ovid's 'Metamorphoses' (Day Two: Books 4 and 6)

For today's readings, we have five main myths: The Minydes, Hermaphroditus, Perseus, Arachne, and Tereus / Philomena. Choose at least two of these five myths and look for a common theme within them. What is the theme? In what ways do these myths deal with this theme? Use quotes from the text to support your ideas. Remember - I'm looking for thought and analysis, not a retelling of the plot.

Mid-Term Exam

The mid-term exam will be next Wednesday - be present and on-time. If you are absent, I'll happily give you a zero (one less exam for me to grade!).

It will consist of two sections.

1. You will be given nine quotations from the four texts we have studied (Genesis, The Odyssey, The Republic, The Metamorphoses). For each quotation you must give the following information: (1) the text from which it comes, (2) the author if possible, (3) the speaker and (4) a short paragraph (around four sentences) explaining and analyzing the significance of the quotation in and of itself as well as to the text as a whole. Full credit will NOT be given for retelling a text's plot. 6 identifications x 10 points each = 60 points.

2. You will have a choice of three essay topics to write one essay. Hints I will give now: Topics will include gender, education / didacticism and the role of the human body. You will be asked to include specific scenes / characters from two to three texts in your discussion. 40 points.

Ovid's 'Metamorphoses' (Day One: Books 1 and 3)

For the discussion in-class I will focus mainly on Book 3, and more specifically on the Tireseas - Narcissus myths. Answer at least two questions or bring up your own topics and analyses for discussion.

Book One

1. How do you interpret the opening of the text? What themes, ideas, concepts does Ovid present here that you feel influences Book One or possible the work as a whole?

2. How might the initial myths of this text raise similar issues to those we found in Genesis? What are these issues? What do you find to be original then about the 'scope' of what Ovid raises here?

Book Three

3. The story of Tireseas appears to be just plain 'weird.' Where do you find its weirdness? What do you make of a person who can change from male to female and back again? How do you interpret the snakes? Tireseas's punishment?

4. Do a close reading of the conversation between Narcissus and Echo. Do you find anything strange going on here? Is Echo simply and "echo"? What does an echo do and what should an echo not do?

5. Deceptively simplistic question: With what or whom does Narcissus fall in love? What is the problem with this? Many writers see in this myth the foundation of love found in all relationships (I would agree!) - what does the myth have to tell us about human desire?