ENGL 407

Fall 2017 All Classes

All Classes

Introduction to Old English

SHOW FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE

Credit: 3 OR 4 hours.

Introduction to the form of English spoken and written prior to about AD 1100. Exploring concepts of cultural, historical, and linguistic change, students will learn to read Old English texts in the original. Readings include examples from the prose tradition (e.g., Bede's story of the poet Caedmon and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle) as well as poetic texts (e.g., The Dream of the Rood and The Wanderer).

Same as MDVL 407. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.

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ENGL 407 class schedule data for fall 2017
	CRN	Type	Section	Time	Day	Location	Instructor	Section Details
	49440	Lecture-Discussion	1G	2:00PM -3:15PM	TR	Lincoln Hall	Wright, C	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/28/17-12/13/17 Credit: 4 hours Section Info: In this course you will learn to read Old English prose and poetry in the original language, which was spoken by the Anglo-Saxon inhabitants of England from the sixth through eleventh centuries. We will begin with some easy prose readings (the story of Adam and Eve from Genesis, and a thousand-year-old classroom skit about Anglo-Saxon “career choices”). As you gradually master the basics of Old English grammar we will work our way up to literary narrative prose such as the Anglo-Saxon historian Bede’s story of Cædmon’s miraculous transformation from cowherd to poet; King Alfred’s plan for reforming English education through a “great books” scheme (some things never change ...); and Ælfric’s story of the martyrdom of King Edmund, slain by Vikings invaders (and featuring Edmund’s decapitated talking head). Then in the second half of the semester we will read some of the finest short Old English poems, including The Wanderer and The Seafarer, two elegiac poems of exile; The Battle of Maldon, recounting the heroic defeat of an English army by the Vikings; The Dream of the Rood, a mystical vision of the Crucifixion, as told by the Cross; and The Wife’s Lament, about a woman abandoned by her former lover. We’ll conclude with a couple of excerpts from Beowulf, about a Germanic hero’s battles with a man-eating monster, his vengeful mother (the monster’s, that is), and a dragon. Along the way we will learn about aspects of Anglo-Saxon history, culture, and art. Note: This course fulfills the Pre-1800 requirement for English majors, and it may be used to fulfill the language studies elective option for Teaching of English students (with permission from an advisor). For graduate students the course is 4 hours credit and will involve an additional hourly meeting per week (time and place to be arranged). Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate - Urbana-Champaign.
	49439	Lecture-Discussion	1U	2:00PM -3:15PM	TR	Lincoln Hall	Wright, C	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/28/17-12/13/17 Credit: 3 hours Section Info: In this course you will learn to read Old English prose and poetry in the original language, which was spoken by the Anglo-Saxon inhabitants of England from the sixth through eleventh centuries. We will begin with some easy prose readings (the story of Adam and Eve from Genesis, and a thousand-year-old classroom skit about Anglo-Saxon “career choices”). As you gradually master the basics of Old English grammar we will work our way up to literary narrative prose such as the Anglo-Saxon historian Bede’s story of Cædmon’s miraculous transformation from cowherd to poet; King Alfred’s plan for reforming English education through a “great books” scheme (some things never change ...); and Ælfric’s story of the martyrdom of King Edmund, slain by Vikings invaders (and featuring Edmund’s decapitated talking head). Then in the second half of the semester we will read some of the finest short Old English poems, including The Wanderer and The Seafarer, two elegiac poems of exile; The Battle of Maldon, recounting the heroic defeat of an English army by the Vikings; The Dream of the Rood, a mystical vision of the Crucifixion, as told by the Cross; and The Wife’s Lament, about a woman abandoned by her former lover. We’ll conclude with a couple of excerpts from Beowulf, about a Germanic hero’s battles with a man-eating monster, his vengeful mother (the monster’s, that is), and a dragon. Along the way we will learn about aspects of Anglo-Saxon history, culture, and art. Note: This course fulfills the Pre-1800 requirement for English majors, and it may be used to fulfill the language studies elective option for Teaching of English students (with permission from an advisor). For graduate students the course is 4 hours credit and will involve an additional hourly meeting per week (time and place to be arranged). Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.