Welcome to SPACE, our adult continuing education program which offers interactive monthly courses for personal enrichment! Learn more here.
Mixed Lecture/Discussion
Medium intensity
Days and Times
As soon as we obtain enough interest in this class we will be in touch to work out a meeting time that works for the group. Thank you for keeping your September 2026 availability up to date!
This class needs more pre-enrollment by August 1 to get confirmed.
This module is a standing candidate which means it will be ready to launch as soon as it gets enough interest. Token holders can set aside a Token to reserve their seat for class and help it get confirmed.
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:
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
- Session 3: Under Siege
- Session 4: Chaucer’s murals and the Italian Trecento: Chaucer's The Knight’s Tale
- Session 5: Chaucer’s The House of Fame
- Session 6: Reading Stained Glass at Chartres
- Session 7: Sacred Wells and their Shrines
- Session 8: Reading St. Mary’s Church in Iffley, Oxfordshire
Required Texts
There are no required tetxs or this module. The preceptor will provide readings and additional material.
Check out Current and Upcoming offerings from:
