ENM4780

Beowulf and Old English poetry

Charles Stevenson

12 points
* 3 hours per week
* First semester
* Clayton
* Prerequisites: Students are expected to have completed successfully ENH2170/ENH3170 and ENH3370 (or their equivalent), descriptions of which can be found in the Arts undergraduate handbook for 1998.

Objectives Students taking this subject should develop advanced skills in reading and analysing the language of Old English, with a consequent capacity to read in their original language the complex and substantial literary texts prescribed for study; a broad knowledge of the historical and cultural background of these texts; knowledge and understanding of early medieval literary theory and in particular of the nature and practice of rhetoric in Anglo-Saxon England; a capacity to analyse the complex and unique structure of the long narrative poem Beowulf; knowledge and understanding of Christian doctrine relevant for the reading of Anglo-Saxon homiletic and hagiographic texts.

Synopsis A study of Beowulf, with special emphasis on the second half of the poem, and the poems of the Vercelli Book Manuscript (ie `Andreas', `Elene', `Fates of the Apostles', `Dream of the Rood' etc). Texts will be read in Old English. Seminar discussions will include both literary and linguistic topics.

Assessment Seminar paper on Beowulf (2000 words): 25%
* Seminar paper on `Andreas' or `Elene' (2000 words): 25%
* Major essay (5000 words): 50%

Prescribed texts

Stevenson C (ed.) Beowulf Monash U, 1994
Wrenn C L (ed.) Beowulf rev. Bolton, U Exeter, 1988
Vercelli Book (texts to be provided by department)