Christopher Abram | Old Norse and Viking Studies

Mondays, 10am-noon, room B9

The aim of this course is to teach students the fundamentals of Old Norse language and to introduce them to medieval Icelandic literature and its historical and cultural background. By the end of the course students will be able to read simple Old Norse prose with confidence, and to demonstrate an understanding of the literary, cultural, and historical context of this literature.

Introduction to Old Norse is taught in weekly two-hour tutorials. Each week, this time will be spent looking at elements of Old Norse grammar, translating the set text, and discussing issues arising from the text and relating to Old Norse literature generally. Students will learn to analyse grammatical forms (the first classes will introduce them to the basic grammatical terminology, parts of speech, etc.); some memorization of vocabulary and grammatical paradigms will be required.

1. Attendance. SCAN 1710 is a compulsory class, and attendance is not optional. A record of attendance will be kept. If for a legitimate reason you cannot make a class, please let Dr Abram know in advance.

2. Preparation. Most of the preparation for this class will consist of revising grammatical topics and preparing translations of the set text. The nature and amount of work required between classes will be specified each week, and this must be completed before the next session: failure to do so holds up the progress of the entire group.

3. Written work. Short essays and exercises will be set from time to time. Full details will be given later.

SCAN 1710 is examined by a single three-hour paper at the end of the year. Candidates' proficiency in Old Norse language is assessed by translating passages from the set text(s) into modern English. Candidates are also required to answer essay questions chosen from a list covering a variety of literary and linguistic topics.

Students are required to purchase a copy of Michael Barnes, A new introduction to Old Norse. Part I: Grammar (London, 1999), which will serve as a reference grammar to back up material given out in class. This inexpensive volume will be available from me.

The first text in this class is Þáttr Auðunar vestfirzka, the story of the Icelander Auðun and his polar bear: the bear is not actually as comical as one might hope, but the story is a masterpiece of laconic compression, and an ideal introduction to the þáttr genre.

The Morkinskinna text of Auðunar þáttr is available to read here.

Click here for an introductory reference bibliography for Old Norse language and literature.