Unlock the secrets of medieval buildings—real and imagined! Step into a world of soaring cathedrals, fortified castles, sacred wells, and the fantastical architecture of Chaucer’s imagination.

In this course, we’ll explore how medieval structures were built, used, and imagined, learning to “read” their stories, symbolism, and hidden messages. From dramatic sieges to miraculous springs, from intricate stained glass to impossible fictional spaces, you’ll gain the tools to explore medieval architecture on your own, uncovering the stories that these remarkable buildings have been telling for centuries.

Course Outline:

Week One
• Session 1: The Temple of Solomon and Heavenly Jerusalem
• Session 2: A church for Saint James in the Field of Stars
Week Two
• Session 3: Under Siege
• Session 4: Chaucer’s murals and the Italian Trecento: Chaucer's The Knight’s Tale
Week Three
• Session 5: Chaucer’s The House of Fame
• Session 6: Reading Stained Glass at Chartres
Week Four
• Session 7: Sacred Wells and their Shrines
• Session 8: Reading St. Mary’s Church in Iffley, Oxfordshire