Course Catalogue

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This course provides an introduction to the wealth of literature provided by two Germanic societies, medieval Iceland and pre-Conquest England. It offers a comparative approach based on the recurring and resonant themes in these literatures of heroism, loss, and separation from society. Texts (which normally include extracts from Beowulf, the Exeter Book shorter poems, Njal's Saga, and Grettir's Saga), are discussed and analysed in translation.

14x1hr lectures; 6x1hr seminars over ten weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

This is one of the Honours options in English Language and Linguistics and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into English Language and Linguistics or successful completion of English Literature Junior Honours, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

ENGLANG4010 Old English Literature

ENGLANG4011 Old Icelandic 

 The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ Examination (150 minutes) - 75% 

■ Commentary (2000 words) - 25% 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ There are no alternatives to the Examination, but extra time can be offered as reasonable adjustment.

■ There are no alternatives to the Commentary (2000 words), but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

This course aims to:

■ focus on and compare a variety of texts produced in medieval Iceland and pre-Conquest England which share specific themes or concerns;

■ explore the social and historical context which gave rise to these texts

■ consider issues raised by the circumstances relating to a text's production, transmission or preservation;

■ compare a variety of translations of individual texts.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ situate a specific work within its historical, social and cultural context;

■ analyse, compare, and contrast texts from related cultures, focusing on a specific issue, theme, or topic;

■ evaluate the significance of language nuance, translation and editing strategy in the analysis of a text;

■ evaluate the importance of issues relating to preservation, transmission or manuscript context of particular texts for their understanding.