15 credits
Level 1
First Term
15 credits
Level 1
Second Term
This course explores the changing cultures of the early mediaeval North, especially the cultural history and literatures of Britain and Ireland between the Anglo-Saxon settlement of south Britain and the Norman invasions half a millennium later. These islands were a cultural and ethnic melting-pot between Celtic and Germanic peoples, as seen through a rich body of texts: heroic poems, historical narratives, law-texts, family trees, letters and outlaw-legends. In lectures and small-group tutorials, we explore the diverse forms of social organisation which emerged, and we examine how these peoples interacted with each other: from sex to violence and everything in between.
15 credits
Level 2
First Term
In this course you will be introduced to the Viking Age (A.D. 800-1100), an era of vast economic and political change in western Europe. Scandinavian assaults and conquests changed many social norms, as did the development of urban culture and international trade associated with vikings' activities. In these islands, outstanding vernacular literatures developed: for instance, we have fascinating texts in Gaelic, English, Scandinavian, and Welsh. Scotland provides an intense realisation of all these trends; this course is, therefore, particularly exciting for students who wish to explore Scottish history and culture, and Scotland's relationship with the rest of mediaeval Europe.
15 credits
Level 2
Second Term
30 credits
Level 3
First Term
30 credits
Level 3
First Term
Say the word ‘Celtic’ to most people today, and something vaguely mystical, romantic, nature-loving and long-haired will probably come to mind. Where do these stereotypes come from? What use have they been to the non-Celts who generated them in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries? How have these images been reused in the Celtic revivals and nationalisms of modern Scotland, Ireland and Wales? Why are they so central to New Age and neopagan movements? We explore these questions by examining English-language reworkings of Celtic myths and legends, and ideological texts about Celticism, mostly from Britain and Ireland.
15 credits
Level 3
First Term
30 credits
Level 3
Second Term
30 credits
Level 3
Second Term
15 credits
Level 3
Second Term
30 credits
Level 4
First Term
30 credits
Level 4
First Term
Say the word ‘Celtic’ to most people today, and something vaguely mystical, romantic, nature-loving and long-haired will probably come to mind. Where do these stereotypes come from? What use have they been to the non-Celts who generated them in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries? How have these images been reused in the Celtic revivals and nationalisms of modern Scotland, Ireland and Wales? Why are they so central to New Age and neopagan movements? We explore these questions by examining English-language reworkings of Celtic myths and legends, and ideological texts about Celticism, mostly from Britain and Ireland.
15 credits
Level 4
First Term
30 credits
Level 4
Second Term
30 credits
Level 4
Second Term
30 credits
Level 4
Second Term
30 credits
Level 4
Second Term
30 credits
Level 4
Second Term
15 credits
Level 4
Second Term
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