COURSE: ENG 510
SPRING 2003
TIME: MW
PLACE: GRAHAM 204
TEXTS: AN INVITATION TO OLD ENGLISH AND ANGLO-SAXON
Blackwell (1995)
THE EARLIEST
ENGLISH POEMS, trans. Michael Alexander, Penguin
HANDOUTS
INSTRUCTOR: TISDALE
Home Phone: 951-1107
Office Phone: 334-4691
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays
COURSE GOAL: Acquisition of elementary skills in the
reading of Old English (Anglo-Saxon). In
addition to the language component, students become familiar with the outlines
of the history of the Old English period and the central cultural conditions of
the time. A significant number of poems
and some prose excerpts are read in the original language.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
(1) To place Old English within the Indo-European
family of languages
(2) To identify the roots of Modern English
(3) To acquire rudimentary skills in the grammatical
structures of Old English
(4) To learn and exercise the proper pronunciation of
Old English
(5) To gain an initial facility in the translation of
Old English poetry and prose
(6) To become familiar with the historical outlines of
the period and the major components of its cultural traditions
(7) To develop an aesthetic appreciation for the
themes and modes of the language as expressed in its creative artifacts
METHODOLOGY: The format of the class is the work-shop
model. The instructor will guide the students in accomplishing the tasks listed
above. A typical session will involve
some degree of practicing pronunciation, construing of texts, and supplementing
the materials with cultural backgrounds.
Students must be prepared each day.
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Fell, Christine, Cecily Clark and Elizabeth Williams. Women in Anglo-Saxon
Gordon, R. K. (ed.) Anglo-Saxon Poetry. Dutton, 1927.
Green, Charles. Sutton Hoo: The Excavation of a Royal Ship Burial. Merlin Press, 1963.
Mayr-Harting, Henry. The Coming of Christianity to Anglo-Saxon
Owen, Gale R. Rites and Religions of the Anglo-Saxons.
Quennell, Marjorie and C. H. B. Everyday Life in Roman and Anglo-Saxon Times. Batsford, 1959.
Scott, Arthur F. The Saxon Age: Commentaries of an Era. Croom Helm, 1979.
Stenton, Frank M. Anglo-Saxon
Whitelock, Dorothy. English
Historical Documents. (Vol. I)
Whitelock, Dorothy. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1961.
Whitelock, Dorothy. The Beginnings of English Society. Penguin, 1952.
Wilson, David M. The Archaeology of Anglo-Saxon
Wilson, David M. The
Wrenn, Charles L. A Study of Old English Literature. Harrap, 1967.
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES:
DATE ASSIGNMENT
January
13 Introduction
15 How
to Use This Book; Introduction (pp. 1-16)
20 Martin
Luther King, Jr. Holiday
22 Chapter
I: Spelling, Pronunciation, and
Punctuation (pp. 17-23)
27 Chapter II: Introduction, Vocabulary, The Expression of
Relationships (pp. 25-33)
29 Chapter
II: The nominative and accusative cases,
The genitive case, The dative case, Person and Gender
(pp. 33-38)
February
3 Chapter
II: ‘No paradigms please’ (pp. 38-44) Consult the paradigm section in the back of
the book (pp. 339-350)
5 Chapter
II: The Old English Verb System and Its
Modern Counterpart (pp. 44-50)
10 Chapter
II: And Now Some Practice (pp. 50-52)
12 Chapter
II: Adverbs, Prepositions, Conjunctions,
and Interjections (pp. 52-59)
17 Chapter
II: The Germanic Element Orders of Old
English, Old English Sentence Structure (pp. 59-66)
19 Chapter
II: The tying together of sentences and
clauses, The separation of elements, The apo koinou construction, A passage from the
Old English poem Andreas (pp. 66-72)
24 Test
One
26
Chapter III: Literature (pp. 73-76), Blooms from the
Poetry (pp. 287-296)
March
3 Chapter III: History––Celtics, Romans, and Anglo-Saxons
(pp. 77-85),
5 Chapter
III: History––The Scandinavian
incursions (pp. 85-89), Archbishop of York calls for repentance (pp. 285-287)
8-16 SPRING BREAK
17 Chapter
III: History––The reign of King Alfred, The English kings
(pp. 89-94), New deal for education (pp. 268-271)
19 Chapter
III: History––The Danes and the Normans
(pp. 94-99)
24 Chapter
III: Archaeology, Arts, and Crafts––The Sutton
Hoo Burial Ship (pp. 99-107)
26 Chapter
III: Sculpture (pp. 140-153), The Dream of the Rood (pp. 332-337)
31
Chapter III: Stone and
April
2 Chapter
III: Manuscripts (pp. 174-184)
7 Chapter
III: Test Two
9 Chapter
III: Life in the Heroic Society and the
Impact of
14 Chapter
III: Life in the Heroic Society and the
Impact of Christianity Craftsmen, farmers, and other male members of society
(pp. 206-208), Women (pp. 208-218)
16 Chapter
III: The
Wife’s Lament (pp. 305-307)
21 Chapter
III: Life in the Heroic Society and the
Impact of Christianity Amusements and entertainments (pp. 218-223), The impact of Christianity (pp. 223-232)
23 Chapter
III: Life in the Heroic Society and the
Impact of Christianity ‘This transitory life’ (pp. 232-243)
28 The Wanderer (Handout and pp. 309-310)
30
The Seafarer
(pp. 310-313)
May
5 Selections
from Beowulf
7 Reading
Day
Final Exam: Probably a group
pot-luck dinner at my home. Exam will be
take-home. Short reports on projects
will be
shared at the dinner.
Assessment Procedures:
There will be two tests, a
final exam, and a research project. Each
category will count a third of the final grade, the two tests representing one
sixth a piece. See notes 3 and 4 below
for class participation and attendance as they may affect one’s assessment.
NOTES: 1)
Class Content:
English 510 is designed with a threefold purpose: (a) A beginning course in the language, (b)
The reading of selected texts in the original, and (c) A general exposure to
the essential aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture.
In addition to reviewing grammatical constructions and translating, each
class will spend some time addressing the history, art, everyday life, and
customs of the times. Students will do
research and write a report on an Anglo-Saxon artifact, poem, or site.
2) Class Format: The class will operate on the workshop
model. The instructor will provide
guidance, share knowledge of the culture, and assist each student individually
on the research projects. The learning
of the language and the translating of texts will be engaged
cooperatively.
3) Class Participation: The normal class procedure is to call on
students regularly for the interpretation of grammatical constructions and
translation of passages. Consistent class
preparation is essential. Habitual lack
of readiness will result in the lowering of a student's overall grade.
4) Attendance Policy: Students are allowed four cuts for whatever
reason. After that a letter grade is
dropped from the final average. After
eight cuts, then two grades are dropped, and so on. Tardiness is counted as a cut.
5) Bad Weather Policy: Class will be held unless there is a media announcement that the University is closed.