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Philology 2: Introduction to Old English Language and Literature

Vak
2023-2024

Admission requirements

Not applicable.

Description

This course focuses on the first centuries of the English language and culture, the period of Old English and Anglo-Saxon England (c.450–c.1100), from which a surprisingly rich literature has come down to us. You will be given a thorough introduction to the Old English language (phonology, morphology, syntax), and you will develop skills in translating short texts in both prose and poetry. In addition, we shall study a variegated selection from Anglo-Saxon literature, partly in Old English and partly in translation, such as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a saint’s life by Ælfric, Riddles, and Beowulf. Placing these texts in their cultural historical context also allows us to deal with such topics as the Vikings, the Sutton Hoo ship burial, manuscripts and daily life.

As Old English is the ancestor of Modern English, understanding Old English phonology, morphology and syntax will help you make sense of some of the peculiarities of Modern English, such as the ‘irregular’ plurals of foot (feet) and goose (geese). Hence, this course ties in with some of the Linguistics courses offered by the Bachelor programme English Language and Culture, including Linguistics 1 (phonetics), Linguistics 2 (syntax) and Linguistics 4 (phonology). In addition, this course has some common ground with various Literature courses. Not only because this course will teach you to look critically and precisely at literary texts, but also because modern authors, including W.H. Auden and J.R.R. Tolkien, or J.K. Rowling for that matter, were inspired and influenced by the Old English language and literature.

Course objectives

At the end of the course, students will have:

  • An insight into and understanding of Old English grammar;

  • Skills in translation of Old English text;

  • Insight into Anglo-Saxon literature, culture and history.

Timetable

The timetables are available through My Timetable.

Mode of instruction

One hour lecture, two-hour seminar.

Assessment method

Assessment

  • 1) A 3-hour written exam, with a translation, short open questions and essay questions.

  • 2) two grammatical quizzes during the semester and one short written assignment

Weighing

Written Exam: 70%
Grammatical quizzes: 30%

N.B. The grades for the two grammatical quizzes and the written assignment will only count towards your final mark if the average score of these three elements can be used to raise your final grade. Should this not be the case, the final exam alone will determine your final grade, for 100%.

Resit

When the final grade is 5.49 or lower, the exam will have to be retaken during the resit period. There is no resit for the grammatical quizzes and the written assignment.

Attendance

Attendance is compulsory. Missing more than two tutorials means that students will be excluded from the tutorials. Unauthorized absence also applies to being unprepared, not participating and/or not bringing the relevant course materials to class.

Inspection and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Reading list

  • Baker, Peter (2012). Introduction to Old English. 3rd edn. Wiley-Blackwell.

  • Richard North, Joe Allard and Patricia Gillies, eds. (2011). Longman Anthology of Old English, Old Icelandic, and Anglo-Norman Literatures. Routledge.

Registration

Enrolment through My Studymap (Login | Universiteit Leiden) is mandatory.

General information about MyStudyMap is available on the website

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Information for those interested in taking this course in context of À la carte education (without taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.

Information for those interested in taking this course in context of Contract teaching (with taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.

Contact

  • For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.

  • For questions about enrolment and admission, contact the study advisor

  • For other questions, contact the Student administration Arsenaal

Remarks

Students are expected to prepare for the first class. Information about reading and assignments for week 1 is available on Brightspace (enrollment is required).