Biography - Melanie D McBride

Dr. McBride earned a BA and a MA from the University of Western Ontario before going on to complete a PhD at McMaster University in the field of Medieval Studies, with minors in Renaissance and American Literature. Her thesis examines four twelfth-century French tales of adventure and intrigue to explore the ethical imperatives governing the role of the hero, and then compares the ethic to that found in fifteenth-century English versions of the same stories.

During the course of her research, she has worked with original manuscripts held at the Bodleian Library in Oxford, UK, and at the British Library in London. She was also honoured to attend the summer program in medieval studies at Cambridge University that is taught by prominent scholars in the field. She continues to engage in original research on the subject of the trial by ordeal in literature. Once deemed an irrational superstition, scholars are now trying to understand the trial as an instrument of peace in the close-knit communities that characterized medieval Europe. It appears that even showing a willingness to defend your point of view by carrying hot iron or by plunging your hand in boiling water went a long way towards soothing ruffled feelings.

Widely read and widely travelled, Dr. McBride has a fascination with other cultures and ways of life. She is fluent in French and Russian, and is currently studying Italian. Her enthusiasm and love of learning translates to the virtual classroom where she is committed to helping her students achieve their academic goals. She has been teaching at APUS for the past 10 years. As a scholar, her focus is on teaching and she is Course Lead for

ENGL401 History of the English Language
HUMN520 Right Living in Ancient and Medieval Texts
HUMN540 Beginnings of the Enlightenment
HUMN541 Enlightenment and the Modern World

In addition to these courses, she teaches a variety of undergraduate composition and literature courses, and mentors students working on their Master's capstone projects.