ENGL 319, Old English Language, Literature & Culture, Fall 2014

Abstract

In this class, we will learn to read the very earliest English literature in its original form, poetry and prose from an intriguing medieval culture that has exerted profound influence even in modern times. Old English was the language spoken by the Anglo-Saxons from roughly 600-1100 AD, and the period’s stories of heroes, saints, monsters, and exiles have inspired such writers as J.R.R. Tolkien, Ezra Pound, and Seamus Heaney. Since most Modern English speakers must learn Old English as a foreign language, our work will involve intensive study of Old English grammar with the primary goal of translating a wide range of evocative texts. Course requirements include active class participation, daily language exercises, and three examinations as well as a series of short writing assignments culminating in a final research project. Our texts will include A Gentle Introduction to Old English (Broadview Press), Old English Reader (Broadview Press), and the Anglo-Saxon Literature Handbook (Blackwell). Fulfills pre-18th century requirement for majors. Prerequisites: Any 200-level literature course or permission from instructor.