My hiatus has been far, far too long. I started to think about doing my orals in the spring and the GRE lit exam in the fall. But, I've decided that I should probably use the summer to study for the orals and, thus, take the lit exam in the spring. Anyway, here is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. My notes are slim-- I just read this for about the  ( Read more... )

Once again, my original plan for today was too ambitous given my other school work. My work load is not going to decrease any time soon, but I am still going to try and update everyday. My Beowulf notes are very, very brief. This is a work with which I am very familiar, so I haven't focused on plot stuff at all. Vade Mecum provides a nice summary ( Read more... )

I was hoping to get to Beowulf too, but I have entirely too much reading. Depending on how much I get done tonight, tomorrow will be Beowulf, "The Wanderer," and "The Wife's Lament." I also need to brush up on my Greek/Roman mythology, so I'm going to read a couple sections of Edith Hamilton's Mythology everyday and write up brief summaries. At ( Read more... )

Tomorrow is The Dream of the Rood and Beowulf. Now it's time for my school work!

Bede (673-735) and Caedmon’s Hymn

§ Wrote in Latin and produced many theological works. His most famous work in the Ecclesiastical History of the English People which tells about the Anglo-Saxon conquest and the various kingdoms of Anglo Saxon England. But, he mainly ( Read more... )

Okay, here is my first entry. More later..

Introduction to the Middle Ages

§ Collapse of the Roman Empire to the Renaissance

§ Medieval= medium (middle)+aevum (age) in Latin

§ Anglo Saxon invaders, who began their conquest in southeastern part of Britain in 450, spoke an early form of what we now call Old English. Much closer to Germanic languages ( Read more... )

Although I am now in a MA program, I've decided to start studying for the GRE lit test. I want to start applying for Ph.d. programs next fall and I figure that I'll be far to busy with applications, my oral exams, and thesis to study for the test. So, my plan is to start studying now, take the test in April, and then focus on the other parts of my ( Read more... )