Old Norse Language Literature

Old Norse-Icelandic literature-the literature of medieval Iceland- is one of the richest vernacular literatures of medieval Europe, spanning poetry and prose works covering a multitude of modes and genres: mythological; historiographical; religious; panegyric; legendary; fictional; realistic. It also has a special relationship with Anglophone literature and culture, having had an outsized influence on it from the Victorian era to the present day, and proving to be powerful inspiration for such varied authors such as Walter Scott, William Morris, J. R. R. Tolkien, W. H. Auden and Seamus Heaney, as well as the entire genre of fantasy literature, and, to a lesser extent, historical fiction. Today its influence stretches to other media forms beyond the written word, from music to film to television to video games. This module will provide an introductory overview to the language and literature of medieval Iceland. Each class would contain both literary and linguistic components. The linguistic training is designed to cultivate a basic linguistic proficiency to enable original-language engagement with the literary works. The literary material and discussions will cover not only issues of style, genre and historical context, but also interconnected philological questions such as textual preservation and transmission, transcultural intertextuality (i.e. the influence of works from other European literary cultures), and the relationship between vernacular and liturgical language. In offering a broad introduction to this influential medieval literary culture, the module will also serve as a useful foundation for students interested in questions of medievalism in Victorian literature, historical fiction and fantasy literature, amongst other subjects.