What image comes to mind when you think of medieval women? The Wife of Bath? Guinevere? The Princess Bride? A crossdressing knight? A tavern wench? In this seminar we will examine a variety of constructs of medieval women (chiefly in British texts, but also in some contemporary continental works) through reading works written for them, by them, and about them. We will also read plays and letters they composed, listen to music they wrote, and examine how they operated in and subverted a world that attempted to limit their options for self-representation  If your interests are in gender theory, historicism, cultural criticism, (some) queer theory, or primary text work, you will find ample opportunity to indulge those within the seminar. Texts will be read (mostly) in modern or modernized English editions.

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