Program Description

In the Middle Ages, York, located about 200 miles north of London, was one of England's most important cities. Second only to London in size and importance, York served in turn as a center of Roman administration in Britain, the capital of a Saxon kingdom, a base for Viking incursion and settlement of England, and ultimately a vibrant economic hub for not only England but the North Atlantic world. Today, York is a compact city which, unlike London, retains much of its medieval character. Its original stone walls, upon which visitors may enjoy a walking tour of the city, date in part back to the fourth century, and are the longest town walls in England. York Minster, the magnificent church at York's heart, is the largest gothic cathedral in northern Europe, retaining its spectacular medieval stained glass windows.

The classroom component of this course will focus on literary and historical texts produced in and near York in the Middle Ages and the contexts for such works: readings will include saints' lives, histories, poetry, a Norse saga, letters, and public documents. The seminar-style class will meet for discussion most M-F mornings. On some afternoons, the learning will continue beyond the classroom with excursions to medieval sites in and around York; other afternoons and weekends students will have free time to explore the city and environs for themselves. Plans include day trips to Ripon, a charming village with a grand medieval church and a seventh-century crypt, one of the oldest in Europe; Fountains Abbey, one of the most historic and beautiful places in Europe, with the remains of a twelfth-century monastery and a recreated medieval deer park; and Durham, with a remarkable cathedral, the burial place of the Venerable Bede (England's first historian), and incredibly well-preserved motte-and-vailey castle, now partly university housing. And an overnight excursion will include a visit to Jarrow, where the Venerable Bede lived, including archeological sites and recreations of monastic buildings and an Anglo-Saxon farm; to Lindisfarne, a tidal island in the North Sea, and to Warkworth where a spectacular castle and a hermit's cave attest to medieval life at two extremes.

Ruins of St Mary's Abbey, York	York Minster

Trip Leader Profiles

Janet Schrunk Ericksen is an associate professor of English whose research focuses on early medieval religious poetry. Her regularly taught courses include Old English, Early British Literature, Norse Sagas, and Grammar and Language. One of the things that convinced her to study medieval literature was a visit to sites in northern England during her junior year abroad, and she has returned to England and Europe regularly since then.

For further information about this program, please contact Professor Ericksen at ericksja@morris.umn.edu or at 320-589-6251.

Course Description

Engl 3163 Life in a Medieval City: Literature and Culture in York, 700-1500, 4 cr.

Travel to York, England to study the literature and history of the city from Anglo-Saxon times to the end of the Middle Ages. Focus on the role that York played as the second city of medieval England, emphasizing the diverse cultural influences on the city. Day trips to historically significant sites in the vicinity of York.

Ripon Cathedral

Itinerary

Itinerary is subject to change due to local scheduling.

Budget

Program Cost: $3400

Includes: tuition, lodging, breakfast, program excursions, insurance and administrative fee.

Airfare: $900-$1100

Estimated Extra Costs: $1000

Includes but not limited to: Most meals and personal spending.


Application Deadlines

Initial Deadline: Friday, December 14, 2007
- receive a $150 program fee reduction
-entered into a $500 fee reduction drawing

Early Deadline: Friday, January 25, 2008
- receive a $100 program fee reduction

Final Deadline: Friday, February 15, 2008

Regardless of when you turn in your application, you may be eligible to apply for UMM scholarship worth up to $750. For scholarship applications, contact the Center for International Programs.