Prerequisites (Ingangsvoorwaarden)
None
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Contents (Inhoud van de cursus)
Though Geoffrey Chaucer is credited by one of his contemporaries to be ‘the firste fyndere of our fair langage’, English had already existed for over 900 years by the time it was supposedly founded by Chaucer. With the coming of the legendary brothers Hengist and Horsa in 449 until a century after the Norman Conquest, a Germanic language was spoken in the British Isles that we have come to know as Old English. Despite the strong presence of Latin in Anglo-Saxon England, many writings in Ænglisc survive, from the Laws of King Æthelberht in the early seventh century, Cædmon’s Hymn in the eighth, the Alfredian translations in the ninth, scientific writings in the tenth, Beowulf in the eleventh, and The Peterborough Chronicle in the twelfth century. With the help of the expert Guide to Old English, participants will be introduced to a range of Old English texts in the original. These texts will be discussed in their proper cultural and historical setting. With the help of grammatical instruction on specific features of Old English, participants will translate the texts into Present-Day English. Texts to be discussed and translated progress from simple sentences such as Harold is swift and the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac, to the Exeter Book Riddles and The Wanderer, poems which have their own, distinct syntax.
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Objectives (Leerdoelen)
Participants are able to translate an Old English text into Present-Day English. They have acquired a thorough understanding of the grammar (e.g., the case-system, the strong and weak verb classes, sentence structure) and the history of the language (e.g., selected sound changes and their relative chronology). They have been introduced to a representative selection of Old English poetry and prose, and Anglo-Saxon authors in their cultural and historical context.
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Teaching method (Onderwijsvorm)
3
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Teaching hours/week (Contacturen per week)
2
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Examination (Toetsvorm)
An exam at the end of the course (100%) upon completion of the assignments
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Literature (Literatuur)
Mitchell, B. and F. C. Robinson. A Guide to Old English. 8th ed. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011.
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