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ENGL 302: Medieval Literature: Home

Helpful resources for students in the course.

Reference Hours when classes are in session

Monday-Thursday, 7:45 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Friday, 7:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, No reference services; building open 1-5pm
Sunday, 1pm - 9:00 p.m.

Reference Desk 563/333-6245
Email at : librefdesk@sau.edu

Off-Campus Database Access

If you are OFF CAMPUS click here to access the electronic databases for journals, magazines, and e-books that require login with SAU credentials. You will be asked to login with your SAU computer username and password. If you do not have a SAU computer username and password, please contact Information Technology at (563) 333-6368.

Definitions

me·di·e·val

/ˌmed(ē)ˈēvəl,ˌmēd(ē)ˈēvəl/

adjective

  1. relating to the Middle Ages.

Middle Ages: the period in European history from the collapse of Roman civilization in the 5th century CE to the period of the Renaissance (variously interpreted as beginning in the 13th, 14th, or 15th century, depending on the region of Europe and other factors).

Medieval literature is defined broadly as any work written in Latin or the vernacular between c. 476-1500 CE, including philosophy, religious treatises, legal texts, as well as works of the imagination. More narrowly, however, the term applies to literary works of poetry, drama, romance, epic prose, and histories written in the vernacular (though some histories were in Latin). While it may seem odd to find histories included with forms of fiction, it should be remembered that many 'histories' of the Middle Ages contain elements of myth, fable, and legend and, in some cases, were largely the product of imaginative writers.

Grendel drags Beowulf to the bottom of the Sea

Reference & Instruction Librarian