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2012/13 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

ENGL5216M Old and New Beliefs in Medieval Scandinavia: From Pagan to Christian

30 creditsClass Size: 11

Module manager: Dr Alaric Hall
Email: A.T.P.Hall@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2012/13

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

1. To explore the role of secular/sacred beliefs in old northern society, and the means by which they are reflected in and constructed through literature.
2. To develop familiarity with aspects of the principal genres of Old Icelandic literature through this focused theme.

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module students should be able to:
1. Translate Old Icelandic prose and poetic texts effectively.
2. Understand the nature and sources of our current knowledge of old northern paganism.
3. Understand the role of Christian humanism in preserving knowledge of old northern paganism.
4. Understand the forms and functions of pagan/Christian intersections and clashes in Old Icelandic literary narratives.

Skills outcomes
- Appropriate language skills in Old Icelandic.
- Ability to analyse diverse and complex forms of discourse in a structured and systematic way.
- Capacity for independent thought and judgement.
- Ability to use written and oral communication effectively and at a sophisticated level.
- Experience in deploying research skills, and implementing appropriate methodologies.
- Development of relevant IT skills.
- Development of time management and project organisation skills.


Syllabus

The cultural tensions between Christianity and traditional beliefs were a driving force behind the production in Iceland of one of medieval Europe's most remarkable bodies of poetry and prose. The module explores those tensions through three principal focuses:
(i) Introduction: key theoretical approaches;
(ii) exploration of the Christian- pagan interface in representative poetic and prose texts;
(iii) examination of four distinctive medieval Icelandic beliefs touched by the intersection of old and new beliefs - the walking dead, women as wives and witches, monarchy and sainthood, the twilight of the gods.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Seminar102.0020.00
Private study hours280.00
Total Contact hours20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)300.00

Private study

For each seminar students will be expected:
1. To undertake preparatory reading of relevant primary texts in translation.
2. To prepare passages from Old Icelandic texts assigned for translation and close study.
It should also be noted that:
1. Students will also be expected to offer periodic seminar presentations.
2. As appropriate, language laboratory work will be undertaken to develop students' Old Icelandic language skills.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Progress will be monitored closely via student contributions to the weekly seminar meetings.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay3,000 words50.00
In-course MCQOnline MCQ, 2 hours duration, week 820.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)70.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Open Book exam2 hr 30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)30.00

The examination will examine translation skills developed by the study of prescribed texts read during the module.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 25/04/2013

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