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Institute of Continuing Education (ICE)

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You will have an opportunity to explore the complexities and contradictions of the medieval world through the subtle and sophisticated poetry of the anonymous “Gawain-poet”. The Gawain-poet was a contemporary of Chaucer’s, working across a wide range of literary traditions from the Old English alliterative tradition to secular European romance, all the while offering profound reflections on sin and sexuality, the difficulty of grief and humanity’s place in the natural world. This course will focus on two of the Gawain-poet’s works, Gawain and the Green Knight and Pearl, the former having recently been turned into a major film (The Green Knight, 2021). Newcomers, either to the Gawain-poet or to medieval literature more generally, are particularly welcome.

Required reading: Gawain and the Green Knight and Pearl in The Works of the Gawain poet: Pearl, Cleanness, Patience, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, ed. Ad Putter and Myra Stokes (London: Penguin, 2014)

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Requirements

Who can book?

Our weekend courses are open to participants over the age of 18 and courses are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level. No academic qualifications are required and most courses are suitable for students who are new to the subject. Please ensure that you complete any required reading before the course starts to enable you to fully participate.

English language requirements

Teaching is in English (unless a foreign-language course). If your first language is not English, you will need to satisfy yourself that you have the required near-native command of the language to get the maximum benefit from studying with ICE.

Accessibility and additional support for students 

We make every effort to meet the requirements of those students with additional needs. Please let us know about any additional requirements at the time of booking so that we can offer you the support and advice you require before and during your course(s).

You can also refer to our Further information for students with additional requirements section on our website.

COVID-19 Guidance

Please ensure you read our latest guidance and advice regarding COVID-19 found on our Booking terms and conditions page.

Course dates

11 Feb 2022 to 13 Feb 2022

Course duration

1 Weekend

Apply by

31 Jan 2022

Course fee

£325

Academic Directors, Course Directors and Tutors are subject to change, when necessary.

Venue

Institute of Continuing Education
University of Cambridge
Cambridge
CB23 8AQ
United Kingdom

Qualifications / Credits

Non-accredited

Course code

2122NRX084