ENG4154 – Old English, Introduction
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The course offers an introduction to English as it was before the Norman Conquest (1066), that is, to one of the early Germanic languages. For the first half of the semester, students will work through Duncan Macrae-Gibson's "Learning Old English" (an interactive audio course, with written exercises to be discussed in class). This provides a step-by-step guide through the grammar set out in Sweet's "Anglo-Saxon Primer". The second half of the semester will be devoted to a study of texts in Sweet's "Primer", nos. I, IV, V, VI, and VIIb. These will afford some insight into the literature and history of England at a time when had variously close links with Scandinavia.
Learning outcome
- You will gain insight into the contents mentioned above in a manner to ensure your ability to perform simple analyses of Old English texts. Further, the course will lay the ground for studies of Old English on MA-level.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Admission to the course is required.
Recommended previous knowledge
Basic knowledge of the description of modern English as provided by ENG1100 – English Grammar or a similar course.
Overlapping courses
10 credits overlap with ENG2154 – Old English, Introduction (discontinued)
Teaching
Seminar, with two classes each of two hours per week for eleven weeks, 44 hours in total.
Attendance is obligatory 18 out of 22 seminars. Additional absences must be justified by documentation to the the exam coordinator.
Each student is required to hand in, class by class during the first four weeks, the eight written exercises in Macrae-Gibson's Learning Old English. It is a condition that these exercises be completed in approved form before the student is allowed to take the exam.
Examination
The final mark is awarded on the basis of a 4-hour written examination.
Previous exams:http://www.uio.no/studier/emner/hf/ilos/ENG4154/Eksamensoppgaver/Eksamensoppgaver.html
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Once the course requirements have been fulfilled, they remain valid for the current and the next two semesters that the course is taught.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
Feedback from our students is essential if we are to provide the best possible education. As a student at the University of Oslo you will be asked to participate in various types of evaluation of our courses. Every time a course is given, we ask students to participate in mid-term evaluations, and periodically we ask them to participate in periodic evaluation of the course.