EN256: Myths & Legends of Ireland and Britain
Spring 2008

Syllabus

(Subject to revision)

Wednesday 1/16: Introduction:Lands, Languages, and Legends of the Celts

We will read the following texts:

• “The Voyage of Bran Son of Febal” (Available in Electronic Reserves. Password: patrick)
• “The Adventure of Conle” (Available in Electronic Reserves. Password: patrick)

Wednesday 1/23: Otherworld Encounters

In Early Irish Myths and Sagas, read:

• "Introduction" (1-27)
• “The Wooing of Etain” (37-59)
• “The Dream of Oengus” (107-112)
• “The Wasting Sickness of Cu Chulainn and the Only Jealousy of Emer” (153-178)

Wednesday 1/30: Before the Táin

In Kinsella’s translation of 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 Death of Aife's One Son" (39-45)
• “The Quarrel of the Two Pig-Keepers, and How the Bulls Were Begotten” (46-50)
• "The Pillow Talk" (51-58)

Wednesday 2/6:The Táin

In Kinsella's translation of The Táin, read pp. 58-156.

Wednesday 2/13:The Táin

In Kinsella's translation of The Táin, read pp. 156-253.

Wednesday 2/20: Welsh Legends

In The Mabinogion, read:

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

First essay due.

Wednesday 2/27: Welsh Legends and Breton Lais

In The Mabinogion, read:

• “Manawydan Son of Llyr” (83-96)
• “Math Son of Mathonwy” (97-117)

Also read Marie de France's “Lanval." (Available in Electronic Reserves. Password: patrick)

Wednesday 3/12: Celtic Legend Revised: Deirdre

Read “The Exile of the Sons of Uisliu” (Early Irish Myths and Sagas, 256-267) and J. M. Synge's Deirdre of the Sorrows.

Monday 3/17-- 5:00-6:00 in CNS 9: Special meeting of EN 256 with Prof. Rob Doggett:

Read "Deirdre," by W. B. Yeats.

Response paper due: Discuss how either Synge or Yeats adapt the "Deirdre" legend to modern drama.

Wednesday 3/19: The Legends of Saints: Patrick

In Discovering Saint Patrick, read pp. 3-62, 112-185, 192-229.

Also read "The Phantom Chariot of Cu Chulainn." (Available in Electronic Reserves. Password: patrick)

Wednesday 3/26: The Legends of Saints: Brigid, Brendan, Columba

In The Age of Bede (pp. 233-267) read “The Voyage of St. Brendan."

Also read Cogitosus, “The Life of St. Brigid the Virgin," and selections from Adomnan's "Life of St. Columba." (Available in Electronic Reserves. Password: patrick)

Wednesday 4/2: The Anglo-Saxons in Britain

In Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People, read Book II, Chapters 9-14 (pp. 84-98) and Book IV, Chapters 22-24 (pp. 207-218).

Wednesday 4/9: Beowulf

In Heaney's translation, read lines 1-835.

Second essay due.

Wednesday 4/16: Beowulf

In Heaney's translation, read lines 836-1650.

Wednesday 4/23: Beowulf

In Heaney's translation, read lines 1651-2509.

Wednesday 4/30: Beowulf

In Heaney's translation, read lines 2510-3182.

Thursday 5/8 (9:00 AM): Final Exam.