From Táin to Tolkien and Beyond

Course goals

(1) answer questions about a corpus of texts, about their Nachleben and their role as it relates to cultural memory;
(2) identify Celtic elements in a piece of modern literature/culture based on a corpus of medieval Celtic literature;
(3) discuss and present these elements in a clear manner in writing

Content

This course examines the Nachleben of medieval Celtic literature, especially (though not exclusively) medieval Welsh and Irish literature, up to the present. Celtic elements (or elements presented as such) can be found throughout modern culture. This course invites students to consider some of the following questions. Just how ‘Celtic’ are these elements? What is the role of cultural memory in their continued use in various media? How have perceptions of and attitudes towards ‘Celtic’ changed over time? How can one translate and adapt medieval Celtic texts for a modern audience in an academically responsible way, across different media, in order to preserve them for future generations? In this course, students are introduced to medieval Celtic texts, as well as important  elements in the history of their Nachleben, such as the 19th-century Celtic Revival. Theories of adaptation are also introduced and discussed in the course, to enable students to analyse contemporary adaptations including (but not limited to) books, films, theatrical productions, and games.  Knowledge acquired in the course is tested through the medium of a midterm exam, and the student’s understanding of theory and concepts introduced is tested through a final paper.

Additional information

Please note: the time slot shown here is not yet final and may still be modified until the 3rd Wednesday in September. 

This course has priority rules and a waiting list. Your enrolment is guaranteed if you are:

• a student in the BA Celtic Languages and Culture.
• a student in the minor Celtic Languages and Culture.
• a student in the minor Medieval Literature.
• a student in the BA TCS enrolled in the hoofdrichting Middeleeuwen en Renaissance.
• a student in the BA Literary Studies.
• an exchange student and meet the course’s entry requirements.

In all other situations, you will be placed on a waiting list if you enrol in this course. For any remaining slots in the course, lots are drawn among the students on the waiting list. 


LAS and TCS students who follow this course as part of the core curriculum of their major, need to complete a compulsory preparation course/assignment. See for more information: https://tcs.sites.uu.nl/