ENG 195: Anglo-Saxon Poetry and Society

(Paula Smith), 4 credits, prerequisite: None. Enrollment cap: 20. Where heroes battle monsters, where riddling creatures taunt you to "guess who I am?" and wanderers mourn for the bright times before their exile, Old English poems still have lessons to teach us. A wealth of sites and events--in London and beyond--can illuminate these works of literature by displaying art, weaponry, manuscripts, and other treasures from the Anglo-Saxon period. In this course we will study the literature and society of the Anglo-Saxons through detailed interpretation of text and non-text materials both inside and outside the classroom. Students will write two analytical papers and take part in discussions and field trips.