Women's Words: Writing in Medieval Europe and Japan

Catalog description

An introduction to women poets, dramatists, and prose writers from medieval court cultures, with an emphasis on what these authors show us about their educational, social, moral/spiritual environment and civilization. What did the pen or writing brush enable them to express and achieve? How were they able to negotiate the gaps between a male classical literary language and their own vernacular speech? Readings may include works by Christine de Pizan, Dhuoda, Heloise, Hildegard of Bingen, Hrotsvitha, Julian of Norwich, Margery Kempe, Marie de France, Murasaki Shikibu, Sei Shonagon, and Trotula plus shorter texts written by both men and women. Instructor permission required.