Source material for medieval medicine is rich and diverse. In this course we explore extracts from the work of literary greats, such as Langland, Gower,Chaucer and Boccacio, alongside extracts from scientific writings, recipes, legal and constitutional works, religious writing and other historical records, to illuminate ideas about the body, society and health in the middle ages.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This online literature course brings together fiction and non-fiction extracts of medieval texts for class discussion. We will work with unseen extracts in Middle English and translation to explore sources for medieval medicine, broadening our knowledge of key ideas and events of the period. We cover topics such as the humours and cosmos; practitioners and their ethics; epidemics; mental illness; charms and magic; childbirth and women. We will read extracts from Chaucer, Gower, Langland, Boccacio, Lydgate and other great writers; we will hear the voices of Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich; we will consider comic depictions of midwives in drama texts and the depiction of illness in verse lyrics. Alongside these, we will encounter the views from Lanfrank, Gilbertus Anglicuus, Guy de Chauliac, John of Arderne, Thomas More and many more anonymous voices in surviving texts.
What will we cover?
Using textual extracts, we will consider how contemporary beliefsinfluenced attitudesto the human body and healing. We will explore views about the Body Politic and the divine purposeof illness. We will consider the tension between the Church and trained medical professionals; the practice and craft of Physicians,BarbersandSurgeons; the legislation surrounding their professions;andattitudes towardsApothecaries,Spicersand Phlebotomists.
Many literary texts reflect the social change, upheaval and terror caused by recurrent outbreaks of plague. We ask: was plague and illness a sign of divine displeasure or asignof Grace?How did ordinary people respond to mental illness?How were prayers, incantations and domestic remediesused to counter the fear, discomfort,dangerand uncertainty of sickness in theMiddle Ages? We also consider the role of women, touching on the hope found in herbal cures,witchcraft and pagan rituals, and we consider women’s involvement with childbirthand their work in hospitals.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Read and enjoy short extracts in Middle English in prose, poetry, drama and non-fiction source texts.
Understand various attitudes towards sickness in the Middle Ages
Discuss texts with reference to different historical and literary contexts
Evaluate the significance of imagery and symbolism in the representation of sickness
Use key terminology within your discussions about texts
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is for anyone interested in the subject. No previous knowledge is necessary.
However, learners will ideally need the following skills and attributes:
An enthusiasm for reading prose / poetry / drama / fiction / non-fiction texts
Willingness to discuss unseen texts with others
Confidence to explore language that looks different and to persevere with linguistic challenges
An interest in, and ability to listen to, the responses of other students about the works discussed.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
There is no work outside of class. The tutor will guide the class through several extracts each session to explore different contexts and beliefs. Extracts will be unseen and classes will be discussion based.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You do not need to buy any texts. Extracts will be provided for each session.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Look for other Literary History courses under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.
Dr Rachel Buglass holds an MA in Medieval Writing and Culture from The University of East Anglia and a PhD in late 15th century literature from the Canterbury Centre for Medieval and Tudor Studies, University of Kent. She is particularly interested in dream poetry and the period in the late fifteenth century during which manuscript and print culture overlap. Rachel has lectured and taught adults at a range of institutions, including undergraduates at the University of Kent and at Oxford University and, while completing her doctorate, worked as a research assistant on the first volume of The Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature, Volume 1 (Anglo Norman, Anglo-Latin, Anglo Saxon and Middle English).
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/medieval-medicine3037588Medieval Medicinehttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/literature-taster-poetry-hlt373-1080.jpg149149GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Literary history/Courses/Online courses228511771187159817311228511771187<p>Source material for medieval medicine is rich and diverse. In this course we explore extracts from the work of literary greats, such as Langland, Gower,Chaucer and Boccacio, alongside extracts from scientific writings, recipes, legal and constitutional works, religious writing and other historical records, to illuminate ideas about the body, society and health in the middle ages.</p><p></p>003037576Medieval Medicine149149https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/literature-taster-poetry-hlt373-1080.jpgInStockDaytimeMonOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-09-28T00:00:00+00:00Some experienceSep 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHLT153149149Medieval Medicine11997149Rachel Buglassmedieval-medicine/hlt153-2627<p>Source material for medieval medicine is rich and diverse. In this course we explore extracts from the work of literary greats, such as Langland, Gower,Chaucer and Boccacio, alongside extracts from scientific writings, recipes, legal and constitutional works, religious writing and other historical records, to illuminate ideas about the body, society and health in the middle ages.</p><p></p>0000-Available|2026-09-28 00:00:00<p>This online literature course brings together fiction and non-fiction extracts of medieval texts for class discussion. We will work with unseen extracts in Middle English and translation to explore sources for medieval medicine, broadening our knowledge of key ideas and events of the period. We cover topics such as the humours and cosmos; practitioners and their ethics; epidemics; mental illness; charms and magic; childbirth and women. We will read extracts from Chaucer, Gower, Langland, Boccacio, Lydgate and other great writers; we will hear the voices of Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich; we will consider comic depictions of midwives in drama texts and the depiction of illness in verse lyrics. Alongside these, we will encounter the views from Lanfrank, Gilbertus Anglicuus, Guy de Chauliac, John of Arderne, Thomas More and many more anonymous voices in surviving texts.</p><p>Source material for medieval medicine is rich and diverse. In this course we explore extracts from the work of literary greats, such as Langland, Gower,Chaucer and Boccacio, alongside extracts from scientific writings, recipes, legal and constitutional works, religious writing and other historical records, to illuminate ideas about the body, society and health in the middle ages.</p><p></p><p>Using textual extracts, we will consider how contemporary beliefsinfluenced attitudesto the human body and healing. We will explore views about the Body Politic and the divine purposeof illness. We will consider the tension between the Church and trained medical professionals; the practice and craft of Physicians,BarbersandSurgeons; the legislation surrounding their professions;andattitudes towardsApothecaries,Spicersand Phlebotomists. </p><p>Many literary texts reflect the social change, upheaval and terror caused by recurrent outbreaks of plague. We ask: was plague and illness a sign of divine displeasure or asignof Grace?How did ordinary people respond to mental illness?How were prayers, incantations and domestic remediesused to counter the fear, discomfort,dangerand uncertainty of sickness in theMiddle Ages? We also consider the role of women, touching on the hope found in herbal cures,witchcraft and pagan rituals, and we consider women’s involvement with childbirthand their work in hospitals.</p><ul><li>Read and enjoy short extracts in Middle English in prose, poetry, drama and non-fiction source texts.</li><li>Understand various attitudes towards sickness in the Middle Ages</li><li>Discuss texts with reference to different historical and literary contexts</li><li>Evaluate the significance of imagery and symbolism in the representation of sickness</li><li>Use key terminology within your discussions about texts</li></ul><p>The course is for anyone interested in the subject. No previous knowledge is necessary. </p><p>However, learners will ideally need the following skills and attributes:</p><ul><li>An enthusiasm for reading prose / poetry / drama / fiction / non-fiction texts </li><li>Willingness to discuss unseen texts with others </li><li>Confidence to explore language that looks different and to persevere with linguistic challenges</li><li>An interest in, and ability to listen to, the responses of other students about the works discussed.</li></ul><p>There is no work outside of class. The tutor will guide the class through several extracts each session to explore different contexts and beliefs. Extracts will be unseen and classes will be discussion based.</p><p>You do not need to buy any texts. Extracts will be provided for each session.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Look for other Literary History courses under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteratureLiterary historyvirtual11914997HLT153NONEMon28/09/26 - 02/11/2610:00 - 11:3010:0011:306 sessions (over 6 weeks)65-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayOnlineOnlineRachel BuglassSome experienceAvailable courses2026-09-28T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Culture, history & humanities149149Medieval Medicinemedieval-medicine/hlt153-2627<p>Source material for medieval medicine is rich and diverse. In this course we explore extracts from the work of literary greats, such as Langland, Gower,Chaucer and Boccacio, alongside extracts from scientific writings, recipes, legal and constitutional works, religious writing and other historical records, to illuminate ideas about the body, society and health in the middle ages.</p><p></p>0000-Available|2026-09-28 00:00:00<p>This online literature course brings together fiction and non-fiction extracts of medieval texts for class discussion. We will work with unseen extracts in Middle English and translation to explore sources for medieval medicine, broadening our knowledge of key ideas and events of the period. We cover topics such as the humours and cosmos; practitioners and their ethics; epidemics; mental illness; charms and magic; childbirth and women. We will read extracts from Chaucer, Gower, Langland, Boccacio, Lydgate and other great writers; we will hear the voices of Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich; we will consider comic depictions of midwives in drama texts and the depiction of illness in verse lyrics. Alongside these, we will encounter the views from Lanfrank, Gilbertus Anglicuus, Guy de Chauliac, John of Arderne, Thomas More and many more anonymous voices in surviving texts.</p><p>Source material for medieval medicine is rich and diverse. In this course we explore extracts from the work of literary greats, such as Langland, Gower,Chaucer and Boccacio, alongside extracts from scientific writings, recipes, legal and constitutional works, religious writing and other historical records, to illuminate ideas about the body, society and health in the middle ages.</p><p></p><p>Using textual extracts, we will consider how contemporary beliefsinfluenced attitudesto the human body and healing. We will explore views about the Body Politic and the divine purposeof illness. We will consider the tension between the Church and trained medical professionals; the practice and craft of Physicians,BarbersandSurgeons; the legislation surrounding their professions;andattitudes towardsApothecaries,Spicersand Phlebotomists. </p><p>Many literary texts reflect the social change, upheaval and terror caused by recurrent outbreaks of plague. We ask: was plague and illness a sign of divine displeasure or asignof Grace?How did ordinary people respond to mental illness?How were prayers, incantations and domestic remediesused to counter the fear, discomfort,dangerand uncertainty of sickness in theMiddle Ages? We also consider the role of women, touching on the hope found in herbal cures,witchcraft and pagan rituals, and we consider women’s involvement with childbirthand their work in hospitals.</p><ul><li>Read and enjoy short extracts in Middle English in prose, poetry, drama and non-fiction source texts.</li><li>Understand various attitudes towards sickness in the Middle Ages</li><li>Discuss texts with reference to different historical and literary contexts</li><li>Evaluate the significance of imagery and symbolism in the representation of sickness</li><li>Use key terminology within your discussions about texts</li></ul><p>The course is for anyone interested in the subject. No previous knowledge is necessary. </p><p>However, learners will ideally need the following skills and attributes:</p><ul><li>An enthusiasm for reading prose / poetry / drama / fiction / non-fiction texts </li><li>Willingness to discuss unseen texts with others </li><li>Confidence to explore language that looks different and to persevere with linguistic challenges</li><li>An interest in, and ability to listen to, the responses of other students about the works discussed.</li></ul><p>There is no work outside of class. The tutor will guide the class through several extracts each session to explore different contexts and beliefs. Extracts will be unseen and classes will be discussion based.</p><p>You do not need to buy any texts. Extracts will be provided for each session.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Look for other Literary History courses under Culture, History and Humanities at www.citylit.ac.uk.</p>LiteratureLiterary historyconfigurable
15981187Literary historyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/literature/literary-history1/2/285/1177/1187/15981/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Literature/Literary history
