Celtic Languages and Literatures

Faculty of the Department of Celtic Languages and Literatures

Patrick K. Ford, Margaret Brooks Robinson Professor of Celtic Languages and Literatures (Chair, fall and spring terms; Director of Graduate Studies, spring term only)
Barbara L. Hillers, Assistant Professor of Celtic Languages and Literatures (on leave fall term)
Tomás Ó Cathasaigh, Henry L. Shattuck Professor of Irish Studies (Director of Graduate Studies) (on leave spring term)
Dan M. Wiley, Lecturer on Celtic Languages and Literatures (spring term only)

Other Faculty Offering Instruction in the Department of Celtic Languages and Literatures

Calvert Watkins, Victor S. Thomas Professor of Linguistics and the Classics

Graduate students in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences may enroll in certain foreign language courses for the grade of Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. Students should consult with course heads to determine if a course is offered on that basis.

Primarily for Undergraduates

*Celtic 91r. Supervised Reading and Research
Catalog Number: 1323
Patrick K. Ford and members of the Department
Half course (fall term; repeated spring term). Hours to be arranged.
Instruction and direction of reading on topics not treated in regular courses of instruction.

For Undergraduates and Graduates

Celtic 106. Folklore of Ireland
Catalog Number: 3966
Barbara L. Hillers
Half course (spring term). M., W., (F.), at 2. EXAM GROUP: 7
An introduction to the oral literature of Ireland. We will read folk- and hero-tales, work-songs and love-songs, fairy legends, charms and prayers—placing them within the context of daily life, belief, and performance. Themes will include: understanding oral literature; the relationship of “art” and function; and women’s folklore.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2001–02. Knowledge of Irish helpful but not required; all texts will be available in English translation.

[Celtic 114. Early Irish Historical Tales]
Catalog Number: 0781
Tomás Ó Cathasaigh
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
Introduction to early Irish story-material about legendary and historical persons and events. Attitudes to kingship and views of history in the tales will be explored.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02.

Celtic 115. Kingship in Pre-Norman Ireland
Catalog Number: 8695
Dan M. Wiley
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., at 12. EXAM GROUP: 14
A multi-disciplinary study of kingship in pre-Norman Ireland. Topics include the political history of Ireland 431-1171; archaeology of royal sites; and the portrayal of kingship in Old and Middle Irish literature.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2001–02.

Celtic 124. Modern Irish Literature
Catalog Number: 7084
Barbara L. Hillers
Half course (fall term). M., W., (F.), at 2. EXAM GROUP: 7
A survey of 20th-century prose and poetry in Irish, from its partisan beginnings to the work of acclaimed authors. We shall look at a few of the more important novels, and particularly at short stories by Ó Conaire, Ó Flaithearta, and Ó Cadhain. Poetry came into its own in the second half of the 20th century with such outstanding poets as Máirtín Ó Direáin and Seán Ó Ríordáin, and we shall finish our survey with the contemporary poetry of Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and others.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2001–02. Knowledge of Irish helpful, but not required. All texts will be made available in English.

[Celtic 128. Introduction to Modern Welsh]
Catalog Number: 4148
Patrick K. Ford and others
Half course (fall term). M., W., F., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3
Basic grammar, translation of simple contemporary Welsh writings, and practice of pronunciation and conversation.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02. It is suggested that this course be followed by Celtic 129r.

[Celtic 129r. Intermediate Modern Welsh]
Catalog Number: 4694
Patrick K. Ford and others
Half course (spring term). M., W., F., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3
Further grammatical study, with continued pronunciation and conversation, and readings in contemporary Welsh literature.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02.
Prerequisite: Celtic 128 or permission of instructor.

*Celtic 130. Introduction to Scottish Gaelic
Catalog Number: 1846 Enrollment: Limited to 15.
Barbara L. Hillers and others
Half course (fall term). M., W., F., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3
An introduction to the spoken and written language.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2001–02. It is suggested that this course be followed by Celtic 131.

*Celtic 131. Intermediate Scottish Gaelic
Catalog Number: 4542 Enrollment: Limited to 15.
Barbara L. Hillers and others
Half course (spring term). M., W., F., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 3
A continuation of the fall term course.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2001–02.
Prerequisite: Celtic 130 or equivalent.

*Celtic 132. Introduction to Modern Irish
Catalog Number: 6725 Enrollment: Limited to 15.
Barbara L. Hillers and others
Half course (fall term). M., W., F., at 11. EXAM GROUP: 4
Introduction to speaking, reading, and writing Modern Irish. The class aims to build up students’ confidence in using the language as a medium of communication.
Note: It is suggested that this course be followed by Celtic 133r.

*Celtic 133r. Intermediate Modern Irish
Catalog Number: 6689 Enrollment: Limited to 15.
Barbara L. Hillers
Half course (spring term). M., W., F., at 11. EXAM GROUP: 4
Development of oral competence and writing skills; an exploration of the oral and literary tradition.
Prerequisite: Celtic 132 or permission of instructor.

[Celtic 138r. The Mabinogi]
Catalog Number: 6480
Patrick K. Ford
Half course (spring term). M., W., (F.), at 2. EXAM GROUP: 7
A study of the prose and literature of medieval Wales, focusing on the Four Branches, the early Arthurian tales and associated works. The class will consider the texts as folklore, as myth, and as literature, especially addressing the ways in which assumptions about genre affect the reading produced. Supplemental readings will address theoretical approaches to myth, folklore, and literature.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02. Knowledge of Welsh helpful but not required; all readings will be available in English translation.

[Celtic 150. Celtic Paganism]
Catalog Number: 6589
Patrick K. Ford
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., at 11. EXAM GROUP: 13
A survey of the evidence relevant to the beliefs, gods, cults, and druidic priest class of the pagan Celts, both continental and insular. Materials studied include the commentaries of Greek and Roman ethnographers, the archaeological record, and in particular the writings of the early Irish and Welsh themselves. All materials read in translation.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02. Offered jointly with the Divinity School as 3686.

[Celtic 160. Advanced Modern Irish]
Catalog Number: 0704
Barbara L. Hillers
Half course (fall term). M., W., F., at 11. EXAM GROUP: 4
Reading, listening, and speaking, with grammatical study, geared to the interests and aptitudes of the participants.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02. It is suggested that this course be followed by Celtic 161.
Prerequisite: Celtic 133r or permission of instructor.

[Celtic 161. Continuing Advanced Modern Irish]
Catalog Number: 4421
Barbara L. Hillers
Half course (spring term). M., W., F., at 11. EXAM GROUP: 4
Intensive study of selected topics in Modern Irish.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02.
Prerequisite: Celtic 160 or permission of instructor.

Celtic 182. Modern Welsh Literature
Catalog Number: 1653
Patrick K. Ford
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., at 10. EXAM GROUP: 12
Readings in major works of prose and poetry from the 18th to the 20th century, including William Williams (Pantycelyn), Ann Griffiths, R. Williams Parry, Waldo Williams, Daniel Owen, Kate Roberts, Caradog Pritchard, and T. Rowland Hughes.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2001–02. All works read in Welsh.

Celtic 184. Early Irish Literature
Catalog Number: 2150
Tomás Ó Cathasaigh
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., at 11. EXAM GROUP: 13
A survey of scholarly and critical work on The Táin together with a close reading of parts of Recension I.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2001–02.

Cross-listed Courses

[Linguistics 158r. From Indo-European to Old Irish]
Literature and Arts A-68. Poets and Poetry in the Celtic Literary Tradition
[Literature and Arts C-20. The Hero of Irish Myth and Saga]
Literature and Arts C-22. European Culture in the Middle Ages
[Medieval Studies 101. The Auxiliary Disciplines of Medieval History: Proseminar]
[Scandinavian 200br. Old Norse Literature: Edda and Saga]

Primarily for Graduates

[Celtic 200. Introduction to Old Irish]
Catalog Number: 8266
Tomás Ó Cathasaigh
Half course (fall term). M., W., F., at 3. EXAM GROUP: 8
An introduction to the language of the 8th and 9th centuries, with elementary readings in prose texts.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02. It is suggested that this course be followed by Celtic 201.

[Celtic 201. Continuing Old Irish]
Catalog Number: 6073
Tomás Ó Cathasaigh
Half course (spring term). M., W., F., at 3. EXAM GROUP: 8
Further grammatical study, with continued reading of saga texts.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02.
Prerequisite: Celtic 200 or permission of the instructor.

Celtic 203r. Middle Irish
Catalog Number: 1062
Dan M. Wiley
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., at 1. EXAM GROUP: 15
An introduction to Middle Irish (900-1200) together with a close reading of Aislinge meic Con Glinne.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2001–02.

[Celtic 204r. Readings in Early Irish Poetry]
Catalog Number: 8493
Tomás Ó Cathasaigh
Half course (fall term). Hours to be arranged.
Readings in Early Irish Lyrics.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02.
Prerequisite: Celtic 200 or permission of the instructor.

Celtic 205r. Readings in Early Irish Prose
Catalog Number: 2705
Tomás Ó Cathasaigh
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., at 12. EXAM GROUP: 14
A reading of Orgain Denna Ríg.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2001–02.
Prerequisite: Celtic 200 or permission of the instructor.

[Celtic 208. Early Irish Society]
Catalog Number: 1359
Tomás Ó Cathasaigh
Half course (fall term). M., W., (F.), at 12. EXAM GROUP: 5
The course is concerned with the institutional and conceptual framework of early Irish life. The evidence of the laws will be considered in translation, and the literature will be taken into account.
Note: Expected to be given in 2002–03.

Celtic 225a. Introduction to Middle Welsh
Catalog Number: 3960
Patrick K. Ford
Half course (fall term). Tu., Th., at 2. EXAM GROUP: 16
Introduction to the language, leading to the reading of Middle Welsh prose texts.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2001–02. It is suggested that this course be followed by Celtic 225b.

Celtic 225b. Continuing Middle Welsh
Catalog Number: 4167
Patrick K. Ford
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., at 2. EXAM GROUP: 16
Further grammatical studies with continued readings of Middle Welsh prose and poetry.
Note: Expected to be omitted in 2001–02.
Prerequisite: Celtic 225a or permission of instructor.

[Celtic 226r. Readings in Middle Welsh]
Catalog Number: 2796
Patrick K. Ford
Half course (fall term). M., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7
Readings in the poems of Dafydd ap Gwilym.
Note: Expected to be given in 2002–03.
Prerequisite: Celtic 225b or permission of the instructor.

[Celtic 227. Welsh Bardic Poetry: Seminar]
Catalog Number: 2580
Patrick K. Ford
Half course (fall term). Hours to be arranged.
Selected readings from the Poets of the Princes, with special attention to the historical development of the genre, the social organization of poets, and the bardic grammars.
Note: Expected to be given in 2001–02.
Prerequisite: Knowledge of Welsh or permission of the instructor.

[Celtic 230r. Sources for Medieval Welsh Culture and Society]
Catalog Number: 3511
Patrick K. Ford
Half course (spring term). Tu., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
Readings in the chronicle of Elis Gruffydd, with special attention to the reign of Llywelyn Fawr. Ancillary sources, such as the Welsh Brutiau and genealogies, may be used as well.
Note: Expected to be given in 2002–03.
Prerequisite: Knowledge of Middle Welsh or permission of the instructor.

Graduate Courses of Reading and Research

*Celtic 300. Reading and Research
Catalog Number: 5614
Patrick K. Ford 2921, Barbara L. Hillers 3342, Tomás Ó Cathasaigh 1224 (on leave spring term) (fall term only), Calvert Watkins 2553, and Dan M. Wiley 3719 (spring term only)

*Celtic 305. Preparation of Doctoral Dissertation
Catalog Number: 0375
Patrick K. Ford 2921, Tomás Ó Cathasaigh 1224 (on leave spring term), and Calvert Watkins 2553