Learning outcome

Knowledge:

The course will provide the candidate with knowledge of:

• The dissemination and collection of the principal folk literary genres such as tales, legends and ballads/songs
• The background concerning the collection of folk texts as part of the Norwegian nation-building project in the nineteenth century
• Interpretative theories and approaches to folk literature
• Teaching and disseminating the subject

Course Description

Norwegian and Nordic oral tradition: Ballads, folktales and legends, their historical background and the background for the collecting of oral tradition in the nineteeth century. We use various theories of interpretation and approaches to the genres to analyse texts within these genres.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Spring term, 3 weekends with lectures and seminars Friday evening and Saturday. The course is included in the Bachelor’s degree in Language and Literature with a specialization in Norwegian.

Assessment Methods

Individual home assignment (roughly 4000 words), which counts for 40%, and a 5-hour final examination which counts for 60 %. Students must receive passing grades in both the home assignment and the final examination in order to receive a passing grade for the course.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean