Proseminar: Old English Wisdom Poetry
Fr. 11.00-13.00
Geb.23.21  Raum  U1.83                                                       Beginn: 15.10.2004
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In 1976 T. A. Shippey published an edition of  ten Old English poems which he entitled Poems of Wisdom and Learning in Old English. Since then the term ‘Wisdom Poems’ has become the standard form of reference to a group of poems which can hardly be classified in a different way. Poems like Precepts, Vainglory, The Fortunes of Men, Maxims I and II, The Rune Poem, The Second Dialogue of Solomon and Saturn, Soul and Body I, The Descent from Hell, and Judgement Day I are most certainly ‘Poems of Wisdom and Learning’.

The first lines of Maxims I are an excellent example of this notion:

Frige mec frodum wordum.     Ne læt þinne ferð onhælne,
degol þæt  þu deopost cunne.     Nelle ic þe min dyrne gesecgan,
gif þu me þinne hygecræft hylest     ond þinne heortan geþohtas.
Gleawe men sceolon gieddum wrixlan.

(Question me with wise words. But do not let your opinion remain hidden, or what you know most profoundly stay obscure. I will not tell you my secret knowledge if you hide the strength of your mind from me, and the thoughts of your heart. Men (and women) of perception ought to exchange their sayings.)

The introductory lines of Maxims can well serve as a motto for this seminar. These somewhat neglected Old English poems demand to be discussed by students of perception. The texts are interesting, sometimes enigmatic and always challenging, offering an excellent opportunity to test one’s knowledge of Old English and at the same time to produce creative interpretations. It goes without saying that the understanding of poems of wisdom and learning requires a certain degree of insight into their cultural and historical setting.

With such a large number of texts, it is difficult to decide on a reasonable selection. Therefore I suggest that we at least read and discuss the following poems - we can agree on a definite list in the first lesson on 20 Oct 2000:

1. Maxims I and II
2. The Rune Poem
3. Soul and Body I
4. Precepts

Unfortunately, Tom Shippey’s above-mentioned edition is no longer available at a reasonable price, but all the poems are printed in The Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records and in most standard anthologies of Old English literature - so please, be prepared. Of course, you can also download the texts from the Labyrinth at www.georgetown.edu/labyrinth/library/oe/oe.html

In addition, the texts and other materials will be available on the university's BSCW-Server. In order to get invited to the Wisdom Poetry folders, you should send me your name and email address.
(mail to: holteir@phil-fak.uni-duesseldorf.de)

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Voraussetzungen: Introduction to Medieval English Studies,
                           Parts I and II (Old English)
Leistungsnachweis: wahlweise: mündliche Prüfung, Referat, Hausarbeit
Veranstaltungstyp: Wahlpflicht M.A./Prom.

Der Inhalt der Lehrveranstaltung ist geeignet für die Zwischenprüfung
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©  Rainer Holtei
last updated
20.09.2009

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