Basic introduction to the vocabulary, grammar, and syntax of Old English designed to get students reading original texts immediately. Typical Old English texts include: riddles, charms, medical recipes, laws, chronicles, elegies, saints' lives, heroic poetry, and monster lore.

Hwæt! This course introduces the earliest English literature, with focus on giving students the skills to read its vibrant corpus in the original language. Step by step, we will build our grasp of grammar and vocabulary; from there, we will read a wide-ranging selection of verse and prose, including medical recipes and schoolbooks, love-laments and travel narratives, riddles, heroic poetry, guides for decoding dreams and even advice on haircuts. Throughout, emphasis on close reading will help us solidify our grasp of grammar and syntax, and attend to the ways early English writers themselves approached and valued the discipline of words. You will also practice reading from medieval manuscripts, and learn to use scholarly tools (lexicographical, codicological, digital) for conducting research in Old English. By the end of the course, you will be able to read most Old English texts with the help of a dictionary, and be well prepared for further study in medieval languages and literature. No pre-requisites, nor is prior knowledge of Old English or medieval literature expected. This class satisfies the "pre-1800" requirement for the English major.

Textbook

Baker, Peter. Introduction to Old English. 3rd ed. (2012).
(The second edition would be fine too, though page numbers may differ slightly.)

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.

Requirements class fulfills