Celtic Studies

One of the tools required in order to successfully interpret a medieval Celtic text, is to know as much as possible about the circumstances under which it was produced. This historicist approach is common in the field of Celtic studies. In the first four lectures of this course, students are given a brief overview of medieval Irish literature; medieval Irish history; medieval Welsh literature, and medieval Welsh history. After this, important concepts and themes relating to medieval Welsh and Irish history and literature are examined, compared, and contrasted. This is done by reading background literature, and by closely analyzing texts relating to a particular weekly topic, for example the king, the hero, the role of women, the role of the poet, the saint, and children.

This course looks at the medieval Celtic peoples in the period from c.400-1066AD. The course studies the art and literature of the Celts, and looks at the movements and developments in Britain and Ireland in the period after 400AD which led to the establishment of the historical Celtic kingdoms.

This course provides knowledge of the fundamentals of Old Irish gramma and of the relationship of Old Irish to later stages of the language. It enables students to translate and analyze straightforward Old Irish text, and to locate and use beginners’ aids to reading and understanding Old Irish.

The course introduces students to selected aspects of medieval Gaelic and Welsh literature in English translation. It will cover important and characteristic genres of these literatures, and provide historical and social backgrounds against which primary texts may be interpreted.