Saturday, March 27, 2004 -
Events with Refreshments
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Calvary Presbyterian Church, 1940 Virginia Street (near Milvia)
Berkeley, CA

2:00: Talk on “Chaucer’s Stories Simply Retold for the Children”
by Velma Bourgeois Richmond Professor of English Emerita
Holy Names College, Oakland 
Many retellings of The Canterbury Tales in the Victorian and Edwardian eras combine engaging texts with lively illustrations and still capture the imagination. Like all children’s literature, they also explain a great deal about historical, political, educational, and social expectations, which in the twentieth century developed the traditional view of Chaucer as the Father of English as part of an expansion of general education and English studies.
In addition to many articles and other books, Dr. Richmond is the author of Geoffrey Chaucer and the writer/narrator of the educational video, A Prologue to Chaucer. Her latest book, Chaucer as Children’s Literature, is scheduled for publication in 2004.

2:45: Talk and slide presentation on 
“Chaucer’s Stories Simply Retold for the Children”
by Neal Wolfe Professor, Dominican University of California

3:30: Medieval Refreshments by Lionheart Catering (415-468-9664.)

4:00: A Musical: Chanticleer and the Fox

A hilarious tale set in a barnyard where Chanticleer the rooster has a prophetic dream and the fox plots to outsmart him!

Tickets: $25 general, $20 Senior/Student.
Family special: $65 family price includes supervised activities for kids 4-12 while adults attend the talks, with the refreshments and show for all ages.
To reserve tickets, call toll-free 1-877-424-2823

Sunday, March 28, 2004 - Events with a Feast
3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Christ Presbyterian Church
620 Del Ganado Road (corner of Del Ganado & Freitas Pkwy)
San Rafael

3:00: Talk on “Beastly Tales in Medieval Literature”
by Penny Jackson, Assistant Professor of English
Dominican University of California

For centuries story tellers have taken as their protagonists and antagonists animals who portray the absurdity of human behavior and, especially in medieval times, the predatory nature of Lucifer and his minions. This short talk will explore how these beings, whether naïve or sly, generous hearted or covetous, wild or domestic, entertain and instruct the readers of Chaucer and his contemporaries.
Professor Jackson has often taught the works of Chaucer. Among her publications are two articles on medieval literature: “The Available Past” and “The Castle of Perseverance, Line 695,” which deals with animal imagery in that morality play.

3:45: Talk and slide presentation on “Fabulous Beasts in Medieval Art”
by Leslie Ross, Professor and Chair of Art History
Dominican University of California. 
Animals - real and imaginary - play a very prominent role in medieval art. Creatures ranging from the whimsical to the terrifying cavort through medieval tapestries, manuscript illustrations, sculptures, and stained glass windows. Animals in medieval art often serve as symbols for religious concepts - or to exemplify the follies and foibles of human behavior - or purely to amuse and delight! Come learn about the piety of the pelican, the virtue of the unicorn, and the evil of the serpent. But beware! These cunning creatures lurk everywhere - are they friends or foes?
Dr. Ross is a specialist in medieval art. Her publications include Text, Image, Message: Saints in Medieval Manuscript Illustrations (1994), Medieval Art: A Topical Dictionary (1996), and Artists of the Middle Ages (2003).

4:30: Medieval Feastery: 
The gustatory experience of the Middle Ages by Lionheart Catering 
(415-468-9664.)

5:30: A Musical: Chanticleer and the Fox
A hilarious tale set in a barnyard where Chanticleer the rooster has a prophetic dream and the fox plots to outsmart him!

Tickets: $35 general, $30 Senior/Student.
Family special: $95 family price includes supervised activities for kids 4-12 while adults attend the talks, with the feast and show for all ages.

Reservations strongly recommended

Thank you to the featured speakers and everyone who has participated at our events.