EN256: Myths & Legends of Ireland and Britain
Spring Semester 2005

Monday and Thursday 3:30-4:45
Syllabus

(Subject to revision)

Part I: Irish Myth & Legend

Thursday 1/20: Introduction:Lands, Languages, and Legends of the Celts

Monday 1/24: Otherworld Encounters

In Early Irish Myths and Sagas, read:

• "Introduction" (1-27)
• “The Wooing of Etain” (37-59)
• “The Dream of Oengus” (107-112)

In the Electronic Reserves (password: celt), read:

• “The Voyage of Bran Son of Febal”
• “The Adventure of Conle”

Finally, click here to read W. B. Yeats's poem, "The Dream of Wandering Aengus"

Thursday 1/27: No class--University Convocation

Monday 1/31: Before the Táin

In Kinsella’s The Táin, read:

• “Introduction” (ix-xxvii)
• “How the Táin Bó Cuailnge Was Found Again” (1-2)
• “How Conchobor Was Begotten, and How He Took the Kingship of Ulster” (3-6)
• “The Pangs of Ulster” (6-8)
• “How Cúchulainn Was Begotten” (21-25)
• “Cúchulainn’s Courtship of Emer, and His Training in Arms” (25-39)
• “The Quarrel of the Two Pig-Keepers, and How the Bulls Were Begotten” (46-50)
• "The Pillow Talk" (51-58)

Thursday 2/3: The Táin

In Kinsella's The Táin, read pp. 58-114.

Monday 2/7: The Táin

In Kinsella's The Táin, read pp. 114-205.

Thursday 2/10: The Táin

In Kinsella's The Táin, read pp. 206-253.

Monday 2/14: Tales and Retellings

In the Electronic Reserves (password: celt), read:

• Lady Gregory, “The Only Son of Aoife”
• Yeats, “Cuchulain’s Fight with the Sea”
• Yeats, The Old Age of Queen Maeve
• Yeats, On Baile’s Strand

Thursday 2/17: Tales and Retellings

In Early Irish Myths and Sagas, read:

• “The Wasting Sickness of Cu Chulainn and the Only Jealousy of Emer” (153-178)

In the Electronic Reserves (password: celt), read:

• Yeats, "Fighting the Waves"

Monday 2/21: No class—President’s Day

Thursday 2/24: Tales and Retellings

In Early Irish Myths and Sagas, read:

• “The Exile of the Sons of Uisliu” (256-267)

Monday 2/28: Tales and Retellings

In the Electronic Reserves (password: celt), read:

• J. M. Synge, “Deirdre of the Sorrows”

Thursday 3/3:Thesis workshop

[Spring Break]

Part II: Welsh Legend, Christian Saints’ Lives, English Epic

Monday 3/14: The Mabinogion

In The Mabinogion, read:

• “Pwyll Lord of Dyved” (45-65)
• “Branwen Daughter of Llyr” (66-82)

First essay due.

Thursday 3/17: The Mabinogion

In The Mabinogion, read:

• “Manawydan Son of Llyr” (83-96)

Monday 3/21: The Mabinogion

In The Mabinogion, read:

• “Math Son of Mathonwy” (97-117)

Thursday 3/24: Welsh Romance and Breton Lai

In The Mabinogion, read:

• “Owein, or The Countess of the Fountain” (192-216)

In the Electronic Reserves (password: celt), read:

• Marie de France, “Lanval"

Monday 3/28: No class—Easter Recess

Thursday 3/31: The Book of Kells

Guest lecture by Prof. Marice Rose of the Visual and Performing Arts Department.

Monday 4/4: The Legends of Saints

In Saint Patrick's World, read:

• "St. Patrick's Writings" (88-113)
• Mirchú, “The Life of St. Patrick” (175-197)

Thursday 4/7: The Legends of Saints

In The Age of Bede, read:

• “The Voyage of St. Brendan” (233-267)

Monday 4/11: The Legends of Saints

In Saint Patrick's World, read:

• Cogitosus, “The Life of St. Brigid the Virgin” (207-224)

Thursday 4/14: The Legends of Saints

In the Electronic Reserves (password: celt), read:

• “The Phantom Chariot of Cu Chulainn”
• Selections from Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People

Monday 4/18: Beowulf

In Heaney's translation, read lines 1-661.

Second essay due.

Thursday 4/21: Beowulf

In Heaney's translation, read lines 662-1250.

Monday 4/25: Beowulf

In Heaney's translation, read lines 1251-1650.

Thursday 4/28: Beowulf

In Heaney's translation, read lines 1651-2199.

Monday 5/2: Beowulf

In Heaney's translation, read lines 2200-3182.

Thursday 5/12 : Third essay due.