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IMC 2007: Sessions

Session 603: Christine de Pizan

Tuesday 10 July 2007, 11.15-12.45

Moderator/Chair:Sue Ellen Holbrook, Department of English, Southern Connecticut State University
Paper 603-cTeaching the Book of the City of Ladies to the iGeneration
(Language: English)
Katherine Allocco, Department of History, Western Connecticut State University
Index terms: Language and Literature - Middle English, Teaching the Middle Ages, Women’s Studies
Abstract

Christine de Pizan's Book of the City of Ladies is a wonderful text to use in undergraduate history courses, yet, it is difficult to teach. The City of Ladies is about defending women, building community, and about the power of individuals to make positive contributions to their societies. Can today's iGeneration students (characterized as self-contained, disengaged and jaded) relate to this genre and message? My paper reports on how students (in three different classes) read and value this text. My paper discusses the continuing relevance and importance of the City of Ladies, teaching challenges and proposed solutions for effectively using primary sources in class.