126-069 Viking Studies B: Society and Language

126-068 Viking Studies A: Culture and Influence. European studies students wishing to enrol in this subject would normally have completed first year European studies, see Prerequisites.

Medieval Scandinavia is richly documented by material ranging from runestones to secular narratives and law-codes. This subject explores social, economic and political developments in Scandinavia with a focus on the Norse settlement of Iceland from c870. Iceland was a fascinating 'social laboratory' in which blood feuds, religious practice and gender roles were all part of the social fabric. Students will examine the country's internal organisation, its participation in international courtly, military, religious and trading spheres, and the development of vernacular literature. The Sagas of Icelanders, composed from the 12th century, are gems of medieval literature which represent daily life, neighbourhood rivalries and social development in the tenth and eleventh centuries. Students will read and discuss examples from this and other genres of Icelandic writing, and form their own opinions on issues relating to the use of literary texts, archaeological evidence and historiographical scholarship to understand the past. Medieval texts will be studied in translation and selected Old Norse texts will be examined in the original language. Through extensive text-based study, in which comprehension of vocabulary, syntax and grammar will be integrated with discussion of the cultural content and context of the material, students should develop a broad knowledge of Old Norse.

Written work totalling 4000 words.

A course reader and language materials will be made available in class.

• J Byock, Viking Age Iceland. Penguin, 2001.