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.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Threshold students (low D grades) will display a range of appropriate knowledge – or appropriate depth – in at least part of the relevant field, and will at least partly succeed in forming an argument which gets to grips with the issues discussed in the essay. They will show awareness of the types of core evidence which is available, and the way in which the evidence can be used and interpreted.

-good -Good students (B grades) will show firm abilities in all the aspects noted in the above paragraph, and will show at least a little originality in their readings of the texts.

-excellent -Excellent students (A grades) will display these firm abilities across the criteria, as well as a particular depth of knowledge and/or skilfulness in their analysis. They will also show consistent originality in their reading and interpretation work.