Overview

There are five main areas from which material may be drawn (not necessarily taught as separate units):

i) ‘Mythology/Mythologies’ – examining the evidence relating to gods and religion
ii) Manuscripts and literacy: considering the main manuscripts in the Welsh and Irish traditions
iii) Church and Saints: the 'Celtic Church' and 'Celtic Christianity'
iv) Prose: the 'Mabinogion' and the Irish Cycles
v) Poetry: the poet and bardic tradition in Wales and Ireland; the praise and satirical traditions; contemporary Welsh poetry and the Eisteddfod.

The linguistic material completes the module content.

Learning Outcomes

• The students will understand in detail the different sources for, and aspects of, the ‘Celtic’ literary tradition, and the social institutions which supported it.

• They will also be able to confidently present and discuss the field of study orally.

• They will be able to apply research skills to this specific field, developing an understanding of different aspects of the ways in which speakers of the Celtic languages thought about their own identity.

• They will be able to present clear and lucid arguments, based on evidence, about the value and purpose of literacy and cultures of the written word in mediaeval Celtic societies.

• They will plan, structure and complete an academic essay which will examine specific aspects of the field.

• They will possess an understanding of the basic features of Middle Welsh (or exceptionally another Celtic language), allowing them to continue to further advanced study.