A monster-slayer is hunted across Icelandic wastelands. A hapless student tries to trade lives with a soldier-for-hire. Toys pretend to be human at night. Trolls encroach on the heart of the city. What does it mean to swap places, perspectives, or identities? What can learning about others tell us about ourselves?

This course covers Nordic works of diverse styles and genres from medieval to modern, folding in relevant concepts from literary, cognitive, anthropological, and cultural studies to build a toolbox of analytical strategies. Exercises and discussions will develop skills in argumentation, structure, analysis, and editing, and students will further hone these abilities through writing assignments. Weekly workshops, including a trip to the library, will cover standards of composition and research.

All texts and course materials are in English. No prior knowledge of the Nordic world is necessary for this class.

This course satisfies the second half or the “B” portion of the Reading and Composition requirement.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of the “A” portion of the Reading & Composition requirement or its equivalent. Students may not enroll in nor attend R1B/R5B courses without completing this prerequisite.

Due to the high demand for R&C courses we monitor attendance very carefully. Attendance is mandatory the first two weeks of classes, this includes all enrolled and wait listed students. If you do not attend all classes the first two weeks you may be dropped. If you are attempting to add into this class during weeks 1 and 2 and did not attend the first day, you will be expected to attend all class meetings thereafter and, if space permits, you may be enrolled from the wait list.