CCIV10010 Introduction to Celtic Civilization

Academic Year 2022/2023

This module will begin on Monday 27 September 2021.

Students will need a laptop and Wifi connection to participate fully in this module.

This introductory module provides students with an overview of the origins, languages, literatures and mythologies of the Celts from prehistoric to medieval times. It forms a solid foundation from which students can progress to study the legacy of the Celts in greater detail at stages 2 and 3.

The first half of the module begins with a survey of the main periods of Celtic archaeology and then considers how the Celts were portrayed by Classical Greek and Roman authors, our only written sources for the history of ancient Celtic Europe. Following this, English translations of legal and historical texts composed in Ireland from the seventh century onwards are drawn upon to build up a picture of life in the medieval Celtic world, considering topics such as the structure of early Irish society and the role of women.

In the second half of the module, students will be introduced to the main genres of early Irish literature. This rich tradition will complement insights gained in the first half of the module. Students will focus on reading texts within the contemporary medieval context and will become familiar with the diversity of the early Irish literary tradition. The module will also address recent scholarship in relation to the interpretation of the relevant literature.

Following an examination of approaches and sources, the module will focus on selected genres. One approach categorises the literature into four main sections. These are: The Ulster Cycle, the Mythological Cycle, the Fenian Cycle and the Cycle of the Kings. Students will also examine particular tale types involving voyages, death, love and other central themes.

All texts will be read in translation, supported by critical reading, and no previous knowledge of a Celtic language is required. Beginners’ modules in medieval Irish and Welsh are also available for those wishing to study the languages of the primary sources.