ENGL 7230 Old English Language and Literature
1:00–3:40 M
Thomas Nunnally
Scandinavian monsters and English saints, Jewish history and Germanic myth, the swinging of ancient swords and the singing of Englished Psalms, the joys of the mead hall and the asceticism of monks, bawdy riddles and biblical poems—these are just some of the contradictory impulses energizing the vibrant world of Anglo-Saxon culture and literature.
This introductory course concentrates
on three main objectives:
1. Linguistic: You will gain a basic understanding of Old English—its
sounds, grammar, and syntax.
2. Literary and Cultural: You will be introduced to major prose and poetic genres
of the fountain of literature written in English and the culture that produced
it. As Bruce Mitchell, the author of one of our texts, remarks: “To read
English literature without some knowledge of, and feeling for, Old English is
to cut oneself off from one of the main traditions which have nourished that
literature.” You will read some works in translation with constant reference
to the Old English text. Other texts you will translate from Old English with
the aid of glossaries and grammar helps. Your skills will gradually progress
from translating easy Old English prose (“His linen socc feoll ofer bord
in thaet waeter”) to challenging but exquisite poetry such as excerpts
from Beowulf (“Tha com of more / under misthleothum / Grendel gongan”).
3. Critical: You will discover the diverse world of textual scholarship and
critical debate within the field of Old English, from Aryan myth-makers to feminist
re-readings.
Another objective, unavoidable in studying Old English, is that you will gain a better understanding of Modern English by comprehending its fascinating roots. Finally, you will sample and use some of the many excellent on-line materials relating to the study of Old English and Anglo-Saxon culture.
Tentative Texts:
Bruce Mitchell, An Invitation to Old English and Anglo-Saxon England,
1998 printing with revisions and corrections ! (Blackwell).
Elaine Treharne, ed., Old and Middle English: An Anthology, 2nd ed.,
2004 (Blackwell).
Selected critical essays and book excerpts
Tentative Requirements and Weights
Grammar quizzes and translation exercises 20%
Class reports on scholarship 20%
Mid-term examination (Old English prose) 30%
Final examination (Old English poetry) 30%