Norm Klassen

Norm Klassen is a Professor at the University of Waterloo specializing in medieval literature, literary theory, and the intersection of theology with humanities. He holds a DPhil from Oxford University, an MA and BA from the University of Waterloo, and a BTh from Canadian Bible College. His research bridges Chaucer studies, Christian humanism, and intellectual history, with current projects including a cultural history of love/reason dynamics and a translation of Peter Martyr Vermigli's 16th-century commentary on Romans.

Klassen's research explores rationality in literary theory, medieval conceptions of knowledge, and the theological dimensions of art. His publications consistently analyze Chaucer's works through lenses of power structures, rhetoric, and religious symbolism, while recent work examines aesthetic unity in ecumenical dialogue.

Honors include the 2017 Excellence in Publishing Award (Theology), Dean’s Innovative Teaching Award, and multiple SSHRC fellowships. He supervises graduate research in Chaucer, medieval English literature, and literature-theology intersections. Current creative projects include a detective novel set in London.