Overview of Comprehensive Examination

Period Reading Lists

Part II Primary Text(s)

British Literature: Medieval

Old English

Beowulf

Texts in The Anglo Saxon World, Ed. Kevin Crossley-Holland of from another anthology chosen in consultation with an advisor

Middle English

Lawman, the Brut (selections to be made in consultation with an advisor)

Sir Orfeo and the English Lanval

Chaucer, Canterbury Tales

Chaucer, Shorter Poem and Dream Visions, including Book of the Duchess, Parliament of Fowles, House of Fame, Legend of Good Women

Chaucer, Troilus and Criseyde

Langland, Piers Plowman

Julian of Norwich, Book of Showings

Book of Margery Kempe

Works of the Pearl Manuscript

Gower, 2 books to be chosen in consultation with an advisor from Confessio Amantis

And entire play cycle, either Wakefield or York

Morality Plays: Everyman and Mankind

Malory, Mort d'Arthur (selections to be made in consultation with an advisor)