ENGL 90253 - Anglo Saxon Hagiography

Institution:

University of Notre Dame

Subject:

English

Description:

A substantial part of the corpus of pre-Conquest British literature, in both Latin and Old English, consists of Lives of saints and related texts (such as calendars, martyrologies, legendaries, miracle tales, litanies, and accounts of relics) concerned with the exploits and exemplary behaviors of holy men and women from late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages. In this seminar we'll survey the whole territory with a broad flourish before narrowing in to examine the careers of some of the most accomplished hagiographers writing in England between the eighth and the eleventh century (especially Ælfric, Bede, Byrhtferth, Folcard, Goscelin, and Wulfstan of Winchester). From that point we will narrow in even further to undertake close readings of a core set of texts (Bede's Life of St Cuthbert, Felix's Life of St Guthlac, the Old English Martyrology, and selections from Ælfric's Lives of Saints), and we will give special attention to the literary dimensions of the cults of four prominent native English saints: Cuthbert, Guthlac, Æthelthryth, and Edmund. Requirements include regular reading in Latin and Old English, weekly response papers, a bibliographical essay, and a research paper.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.nd.edu

Phone Number:

(574) 631-5000

Regional Accreditation:

North Central Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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