BiDis 291:
Medieval Art and Literature - the Vikings
Professor Erussard
Demarest 109
Telephone: 781-3363
Email: erussard@hws.edu
Fall 2007 office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays:10: 00-11: 30
Professor Tinkler
Houghton House Room 211
Telephone: (315) 781-3489
Email: tinkler@HWS.edu
Fall 2007 office hours: Houghton House - Tuesday, 12-1.30
Houghton House - Wednesday, 1.20-2.30
Scandling Center Cafe - Thursday, 12.15-1.00
or any day by appointment
The term "Viking" conjures up a mosaic of violent of images: those of ruthless pirates ravaging the coasts of Europe or of adventurous sailors reaching the American continent or of heroic, pagan warriors vanquishing mythical beasts in the name of Odin, the great god of poetry and battle. Though these images are well attested in medieval material and literary sources, they represent only part of early Scandinavian civilization. This course will be divided into three parts of unequal length: First, we will consider the evolution of a distinct civilization in Scandinavia prior to the Viking Age. Second, we will focus on the period between 790 and 1100, the centuries that have been called the Viking Age. Third, we will pay attention and read carefully the Icelandic Sagas, observe how the acceptance of Christianity and Latin culture influenced a new age in cultural Viking history.
Course Objectives:
The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with a civilization that as often been misrepresented in popular culture. We will learn about and ÒpracticeÓ Scandinavian shipbuilding; we will try to understand the socio-cultural, legal, religious and political causes of what may appear to be [brutal][random / meaningless] feats [[hmmm Ð they were brutal Ð what they werenÕt were random or meaningless]] of violence; we will learn to recognize and [read][ÒreadÓ] the runic system and we will become sensitive to the aesthetics of the VikingsÕ material and literary culture.
Methodology:
All artifacts, texts and their characteristics will be studied within their historical and socio-cultural contexts. Therefore, the approach will be formalist and historicist. We will pay attention to literary or artistic techniques, styles, generic ascription and variation. As a special project, students will be given the opportunity to build a miniature Viking boat in order to experience the technology of the Norse seamen. We will invite a professor for Cornell University to share with us his expertise in this matter. We will also learn about the making of wax stamps by inviting a local specialist to our classroom.
This course will help students address Goal 1 (Develop skills for effective communication: listening, reading, writing, speaking.), Goal 6 (Develop an intellectually grounded foundation for understanding differences and inequalities of gender, race and class.), and Goal 7 (Acquire critical knowledge of the multiplicity of world cultures.).
all required:
Grading Scale and Writing Expectations 1. *The theme of the project should be announced ahead of time; it must absolutely be discussed with and approved by one or both of the instructors. A list of possible project-themes will be provided by the instructors, but you are encouraged to suggest your own according to your personal inclinations and interests. Within the ÒcreativeÓ category, there will be the possibility of a community based, social project; such activities require careful planning and should be organized at least six weeks before the end of the semester. 2. *Projects must be individual. Only in a few cases will several students be allowed to work on the same project and such circumstance will have to be due to the logical requirement of the specific project. **All papers must be submitted in two ways:
This schedule may/will change according to the needs of the class. Students will be responsible for all the reading assignments. Students should be prepared and punctual. However, should you not be prepared, come to class anyway! You can still learn from class discussions and lectures on those days. You will be encouraged to form study groups. We will meet with each group to discuss papers and help you review for the exams. These meetings will not be during office hours and will take place in the Cafe.
Secondary text:
Vikings: A Very Short Introduction,, Julian D. Richards
Primary texts:
The Agricola and the Germania, Tacitus, tr. H. Mattingly
The Saga of the Volsungs: The Norse Epic of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer, tr. Jesse L. Byock
Njal's Saga, tr. Robert Cook
Seven Viking Romances, tr. Herman Palsson and Paul Edwards
The Prose Edda : Tales From Norse Mythology, Snorri Sturluson
- Photocopies of other texts will be provided by the instructors, posted on Blackboard and/or put on reserve at the library.
1. A printed copy (stapled please)
2. An electronic copy that will be screened for plagiarism using the program turnitin.com.
This system is required to meet the academic policies of the Colleges concerning plagiarism and other crucial aspects of intellectual and academic honesty. Plagiarism (the act of deliberately presenting another's work as your own) is unethical, against the CollegesÕ policies, and can have serious consequences. All instances of plagiarism will be reported to the Committee on Standards. Avoid plagiarism at all times Please, read carefully the HWS Handbook of Community Standards 2007-2008 for more details.
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December 8-10: Reading Days: Group-reviews for Final Exam will be held in the Scandling cafe.
Resources and Support for Students
Image Review
We offer the possibility for online image review
via the Artifact Image Reviews page.
The physical Visual Resources Collection is on the second floor of Houghton House and holds more than 300,000 slides, compact discs, and DVDs of use for Art History classes.