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  4. 2015-2016
  5. Divinity
  6. DR4089: RELIGIOUS WOMEN IN THE WEST 11TH/16TH CENTURY

DR4089: RELIGIOUS WOMEN IN THE WEST 11TH/16TH CENTURY (2015-2016)

Last modified: 25 Mar 2016 11:37


Course Overview

The course will give students an insight into the lives of medieval religious women in the context of their communities. We will examine the spiritual issues and practical challenges that confronted religious women in the Middle Ages. Community life and literary production differed widely according to the rules the women followed, the resources they had command of, and their daily experiences. Additionally, the seminar will look into the piety of secular women whose religious aspirations were restricted by household chores and their duties as wives and mothers. 

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term First Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Marie-Luise Ehrenschwendtner

Qualification Prerequisites

None.

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The course will give students an insight into the lives of medieval religious women in the context of their communities. The course will familiarise students with historical sources and methodologies and will provide students with a deeper understanding of religious, spiritual, and theological developments during the Middle Ages. By the end of the course students will be able to - achieve a better understanding of the general situation of medieval women and the pursuits of religious women in particular - demonstrate a deeper understanding of religious concerns exemplified by literature written by women - identify, use, and evaluate different kinds of primary sources - understand and apply different historical methodologies - engage in comparative analysis and interpretation - produce an original piece of written work - proceed to independent historical research on topics covered by the course. The course will examine the spiritual issues and practical challenges that confronted religious women in the Middle Ages. Community life and literary production differed widely according to the rules the women followed, the resources they had command of, and their daily experiences. Additionally, the seminar will look into the piety of secular women whose religious aspirations were restricted by household chores and their duties as wives and mothers. The sources we will use are chosen from the women's own writings, from biographies and from theoretical texts which contemplate the 'nature of women'.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour examination (50%), 1 essay (40%; 3000-3500 words), seminar presentation (10%; orally and written summary) Resit: 100% examination

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Feedback

The students will obtain prompt and detailed feedback on their presentations as well as on their submitted essay, and if requested on the exam.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.
 

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