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Undergraduate Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Studies 2014-2015

CE1033: BARBARIANS, ROMANS, GODS AND WARRIORS

15 credits

Level 1

First Term

This course gives you an exciting introduction to the Celtic and Germanic worlds. In lectures and small-group tutorials, we will explore the peoples who inhabited western and central Europe in Antiquity. We will discuss their cultures and their interactions with Greece and Rome. The course also covers the fates of these cultures in the post-Roman world. Change over time will provide a major driver of the course: for instance, empire and its effect; the history and impact of the "barbarian"; the successive impacts of Roman religion and of Christianity, and how they were represented in mediaeval "heroic" literature.

CE1534: ARTHUR AND FINN, BEOWULF AND ALFRED THE GREAT: HISTORY, LAW AND LITERATURE IN THE EARLY MEDIEVAL NORTH

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.

CE2035: VIKINGS IN CELTIC AND GERMANIC SCOTLAND

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.

CE2563: LOVE, LOSS AND REVIVAL: GAELIC IRELAND, 1700 TO THE PRESENT

15 credits

Level 2

Second Term

This course provides an introduction to Gaelic Ireland from the eighteenth century to the present. We will discuss the aims and achievements of all genres of literature written in modern Irish: for instance, political vision-poems, laments, short stories and autobiographies. The course will also cover in detail the major twentieth-century poets and their diverse motivations, e.g. self-discovery, urban/rural tension and commentary on political and social aspects of their own day. The connections between Irish literature and historical events, the changing status of the Irish language, and Ireland's relationship with the rest of Europe, will form important elements of the course.

CE3063: INTRODUCTION TO OLD GAELIC IA

30 credits

Level 3

First Term

The course provides a basic introduction to Old Gaelic, and is an exciting option for students who are interested in exploring the history of modern Scottish Gaelic, and/or curious about Celtic grammatical structures. We will read some basic texts in the original language. Any previous language study will be an advantage. Old Gaelic is the earliest form of a Celtic language which we can reconstruct with some certainty. It holds the key to the earliest vernacular literature north of the Alps, and is the earliest attested form of both Irish and Scottish Gaelic.

CE3090: CELTIC MYTH IN THE MODERN WORLD: FROM OSSIAN TO THE NEW AGE A

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.

CE3099: INDEPENDENT STUDY IN CELTIC & ANGLO-SAXON STUDIES A

15 credits

Level 3

First Term

This course will provide the opportunity for students to pursue in-depth exploration of a specific topic in Celtic and/or Anglo-Saxon Studies. It gives students an opportunity for intensive engagement in a specific area within the research field of an individual staff member, and can be arranged as preparatory work towards a dissertation. The content of this course may vary, but the course focuses on enhancing the student's knowledge and research skills in the specified topic. Students interested in taking the course should discuss their specific interest in advance, where possible, with the Programme Co-ordinator and a possible supervisor.

CE3563: INTRODUCTION TO OLD GAELIC IIA

30 credits

Level 3

Second Term

The course consists of continued study of the Old Gaelic language, and is an exciting option for students who are interested in exploring further the history of modern Scottish Gaelic, and/or curious about Celtic grammatical structures. We will read more complex texts in the original language. Any previous language study will be an advantage. Old Gaelic is the earliest form of a Celtic language which we can reconstruct with some certainty. It holds the key to the earliest vernacular literature north of the Alps, and is the earliest attested form of both Irish and Scottish Gaelic.

CE3597: LAW AND LITERATURE AMONG THE CELTS AND ANGLO-SAXONS IN THE EARLY AND CENTRAL MIDDLE AGES

30 credits

Level 3

Second Term

What was the function of law in the mediaeval world, and how were laws applied in society? In this course we will explore the rich legal literature which has survived from both England and the Celtic-speaking countries from the late sixth/early seventh century to the twelfth. This literature deals with almost every aspect of earlier mediaeval society. It is complemented by narrative and poetic literature which dwells on the ideal and the undesirable aspects of human nature. This course is devoted both to legal thought and to law operative in society, in both Celtic-speaking and English-speaking countries.

CE3599: INDEPENDENT STUDY IN CELTIC & ANGLO-SAXON STUDIES A

15 credits

Level 3

Second Term

This course will provide the opportunity for students to pursue in-depth exploration of a specific topic in Celtic and/or Anglo-Saxon Studies. It gives students an opportunity for intensive engagement in a specific area within the research field of an individual staff member, and can be arranged as preparatory work towards a dissertation. The content of this course may vary, but the course focuses on enhancing the student's knowledge and research skills in the specified topic. Students interested in taking the course should discuss their specific interest in advance, where possible, with the Programme Co-ordinator and a possible supervisor..

CE4063: INTRODUCTION TO OLD GAELIC IB

30 credits

Level 4

First Term

The course provides a basic introduction to Old Gaelic, and is an exciting option for students who are interested in exploring the history of modern Scottish Gaelic, and/or curious about Celtic grammatical structures. We will read some basic texts in the original language. Any previous language study will be an advantage. Old Gaelic is the earliest form of a Celtic language which we can reconstruct with some certainty. It holds the key to the earliest vernacular literature north of the Alps, and is the earliest attested form of both Irish and Scottish Gaelic.

CE4090: CELTIC MYTH IN THE MODERN WORLD: FROM OSSIAN TO THE NEW AGE B

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.

CE4099: INDEPENDENT STUDY IN CELTIC & ANGLO-SAXON STUDIES B

15 credits

Level 4

First Term

This course will provide the opportunity for students to pursue in-depth exploration of a specific topic in Celtic and/or Anglo-Saxon Studies. It gives students an opportunity for intensive engagement in a specific area within the research field of an individual staff member, and can be arranged as preparatory work towards a dissertation. The content of this course may vary, but the course focuses on enhancing the student's knowledge and research skills in the specified topic. Students interested in taking the course should discuss their specific interest in advance, where possible, with the Programme Co-ordinator and a possible supervisor.

CE4511: DISSERTATION IN CELTIC

30 credits

Level 4

Second Term

The Dissertation in Celtic Studies is for Senior Honours students registered in the Celtic Studies degree programme. It will consist of approximately 3 one-hour tutorials, to provide students with guidance on selecting a suitable academic topic and developing a methodology for tackling this topic.

CE4513: DISSERTATION IN CELTIC CIVILISATION

30 credits

Level 4

Second Term

The Dissertation in Celtic Civilisation is for Senior Honours students registered in the Celtic Civilisation degree programme. It will consist of approximately 3 one-hour tutorials, to provide students with guidance on selecting a suitable academic topic and developing a methodology for tackling this topic.

CE4563: INTRODUCTION TO OLD GAELIC IIB

30 credits

Level 4

Second Term

The course consists of continued study of the Old Gaelic language, and is an exciting option for students who are interested in exploring further the history of modern Scottish Gaelic, and/or curious about Celtic grammatical structures. We will read more complex texts in the original language. Any previous language study will be an advantage. Old Gaelic is the earliest form of a Celtic language which we can reconstruct with some certainty. It holds the key to the earliest vernacular literature north of the Alps, and is the earliest attested form of both Irish and Scottish Gaelic.

CE4597: LAW AND LITERATURE AMONG THE CELTS AND ANGLO-SAXONS IN THE EARLY AND CENTRAL MIDDLE AGES

30 credits

Level 4

Second Term

What was the function of law in the mediaeval world, and how were laws applied in society? In this course we will explore the rich legal literature which has survived from both England and the Celtic-speaking countries from the late sixth/early seventh century to the twelfth. This literature deals with almost every aspect of earlier mediaeval society. It is complemented by narrative and poetic literature which dwells on the ideal and the undesirable aspects of human nature. This course is devoted both to legal thought and to law operative in society, in both Celtic-speaking and English-speaking countries.

CE4598: DISSERTATION IN CELTIC & ANGLO-SAXON STUDIES

30 credits

Level 4

Second Term

The Dissertation in Celtic & Anglo-Saxon Studies is for Senior Honours students registered in the Celtic & Anglo-Saxon Studies degree programme. It will consist of approximately 3 one-hour tutorials, to provide students with guidance on selecting a suitable academic topic and developing a methodology for tackling this topic.

CE4599: INDEPENDENT STUDY IN CELTIC & ANGLO-SAXON STUDIES B

15 credits

Level 4

Second Term

This course will provide the opportunity for students to pursue in-depth exploration of a specific topic in Celtic and/or Anglo-Saxon Studies. It gives students an opportunity for intensive engagement in a specific area within the research field of an individual staff member, and can be arranged as preparatory work towards a dissertation. The content of this course may vary, but the course focuses on enhancing the student's knowledge and research skills in the specified topic. Students interested in taking the course should discuss their specific interest in advance, where possible, with the Programme Co-ordinator and a possible supervisor.

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