Icelandic Studies
Head: Peter Buchan
Campus Address/General Office: 357 University College
Telephone: 204 474 8487
Email Address: um_icelandic@umanitoba.ca
Website: umanitoba.ca/icelandic
Program Information
The department offers a study of a cultural heritage that crosses centuries, oceans and continents, which includes courses in Icelandic language and literature and the poetics of immigration. The study of Icelandic prepares students for opportunities in research, teaching, translation, writing, interpretation and publishing.
For entry, continuation and graduation requirements for the General Degree, Advanced Degree and Honours Degree, see: Basic Faculty Regulations for the B.A. General, Advanced and Honours Degree Programs.
Major Program
For entry to the Major, the prerequisite is a grade of “C” or better in either ICEL 1200 (6) or ICEL 2200 (6).
A minimum "C" average in all courses that comprise the Major is required to graduate including the higher grade of repeated courses and excluding failed courses.
Minor (Concentration) Program
For entry to the Minor (Concentration), the prerequisite is a grade of “C” or better in ICEL 1400 and ICEL 1410, or ICEL 1200 or ICEL 2200.
Honours Program
The Honours program is not currently offered.
For information on reciprocal recognition of credit for Scandinavian/ Icelandic courses given by the University of Alberta and the University of Manitoba, see the department.
Programs
| Degree/Diploma | Years to Completion | Total Credit Hours | Has Co-op Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree/Diploma Icelandic, B.A. Double Honours | Years to Completion 4 | Total Credit Hours 120 | Has Co-op Option no |
| Degree/Diploma Icelandic, B.A. General | Years to Completion 3 | Total Credit Hours 90 | Has Co-op Option no |
| Degree/Diploma Icelandic, B.A. Single Honours | Years to Completion 4 | Total Credit Hours 120 | Has Co-op Option no |
| Degree/Diploma Icelandic Minor (Concentration) | Total Credit Hours 18 | Has Co-op Option no |
Courses
Icelandic
ICEL 1200 Introduction to Icelandic 6 cr
(Lab required) Language of instruction: English. Intended for students with little or no previous knowledge of Icelandic. Emphasis will be placed on functional spoken and written comprehension and communication, with some basic Icelandic grammar. Pronunciation and conversation skills are developed in weekly language laboratory sessions. May not be held with the former ICEL 1240. Not open to students with native oral fluency.
Equiv To: ICEL 1240
Attributes: Humanities, Recommended Intro Courses
ICEL 1210 Conversational Icelandic 3 cr
This course is offered as part of the Summer Session course offerings. Intensive study of conversational Icelandic during a field trip to Iceland. Students will be trained in groups in a classroom setting before they try their language skills in authentic situations. The course is designed for beginners as well as intermediate students. Regular attendance is obligatory. Taught in English. Open to all students.
Attributes: Humanities, Recommended Intro Courses
ICEL 1300 Introduction to Swedish 3 cr
The course is intended for beginners. Emphasis will be placed on conversation skills and reading comprehension, and students will also learn the basic grammatical structures of the language and how to write short compositions. Pronunciation is developed in weekly language laboratory exercises. Open to all students.
Attributes: Humanities, Recommended Intro Courses
ICEL 1400 Introduction to Contemporary Culture in Iceland 3 cr
With a rich historical backdrop beginning with the Viking Age, this course serves to demonstrate how the art forms of the past are reshaped in the present. Political and economic events with local and global factors will be explored in relation to the nation's struggle for sovereignty. Contemporary literature, music, art and culture in Iceland will be examined in the context of its past legacy of medieval myth, saga, court poetry, and later folklore, poetry and song to understand how these legacies carry forward today. May not be held with the former ICEL 1220.
Mutually Exclusive: ICEL 1220
Attributes: Humanities, Recommended Intro Courses
ICEL 1410 Introduction to Culture in Medieval Iceland 3 cr
The aim of this course is to study a selection of sagas, history fragments, and mythological sources. The history of Icelandic literature from the medieval period will be surveyed, pursuing topics such as how literature and culture interact with one another in history, the political landscape of medieval Iceland, and representative works from the literary corpus. May not be held with the former ICEL 1220.
Mutually Exclusive: ICEL 1220
Attributes: Humanities, Recommended Intro Courses
ICEL 2200 Intermediate Icelandic 1 6 cr
Languages of instruction: English and Icelandic. Emphasis on expanding the vocabulary and knowledge of more complex grammatical structures. Students develop their spoken and written comprehension and communication through conversational practice, oral presentations, watching films and television shows, studying fictional as well as non-fictional texts and writing short papers in Icelandic. May not be held with the former ICEL 2240.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: ICEL 1200 or the former ICEL 1240, or written consent of instructor.
Prerequisite: ICEL 1200 or the former ICEL 1240, or written consent of instructor.
Equiv To: ICEL 2240
Attributes: Humanities
ICEL 2220 Modern Icelandic Literature in Translation 3 cr
This is a study of modern Icelandic literature through analysis of a selection of works by key Icelandic writers from the early twentieth century until the present. Students will explore the varieties of themes, literary traditions, literary movements and individual aesthetics prominent in this literature. The course also considers the development of the translation of modern Icelandic literature in the English-speaking world from early twentieth century until the present. All works will be in English or English translation.
Attributes: Humanities
ICEL 2230 Icelandic-Canadian Literature 3 cr
A survey of poetry, prose and drama by Icelandic-Canadian authors from the late 19th century settlement to the present. The course will examine the literature's individual characteristics and its place within the broader field of Canadian and world literature. All works will be in English or English translation.
Attributes: Humanities
ICEL 2310 An Introduction to Old Icelandic Language and Literature 6 cr
Old Icelandic/Old Norse or dǫnsk tunga was the lingua franca throughout Scandinavia and the British Isles for several centuries in the early medieval period. Learning will be focused on the vocabulary, grammatical structure and development of the language during this period, preparing students to translate Old Icelandic texts. A variety of medieval texts will be surveyed that highlight relevant facets of the language and its history, and students will be given translation assignments in relation to their skill level.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: written consent of department head.
Prerequisite: written consent of department head.
Attributes: Humanities
ICEL 2400 Icelandic Folktales 3 cr
A study of Icelandic folklore, legends and fairy tales through a variety of methodological and theoretical approaches. This course will identify unique aspects of Icelandic folklore while also placing it in the context of other folklore traditions and the development of folkloristics. All works will be in English or English translation. May not be held with the former ICEL 2250.
Equiv To: ICEL 2250
Attributes: Humanities
ICEL 2410 Special Topics 3 cr
Topics dealing with Icelandic literature, culture or language. Course content will vary from year to year depending on interest and needs of students and staff. The course content may vary. Students can earn multiple credits for this course only when the topic subtitle is different.
Attributes: Humanities
ICEL 2450 Viking Legends in World Literature 3 cr
This class examines works of fantasy literature by J.R.R. Tolkien and others which have been inspired by the “Old North” of medieval Scandinavia and especially by Norse mythology. Beginning in the Romantic era, writers, poets, artists, and musicians granted the gods and goddesses of pre-Christian Scandinavia a prominent presence on the stage of local, national, and world culture, even during centuries of upheaval and unbelief. This course introduces students to key interpreters of northern legend in Iceland and around the world, including the British Isles, America and Argentina. All works will be in English or English translation. May not be held with ICEL 2410 when titled "Infinite Worlds: Norse Mythology in The Modern Age."
Mutually Exclusive: ICEL 2410
Attributes: Humanities, Recommended Intro Courses
ICEL 2460 Icelandic Music 3 cr
This course will provide a chronological survey of Icelandic music and scholarship concerning Icelandic music, from the earliest written and archaeological sources to the current day. Topics will include classical music composition and performance, choral music, jazz, pop, punk, alternative, heavy metal, to name a few. All works will be in English or English translation. May not be held with ICEL 2410 when titled "Icelandic Music and its History" or MUSIC 3830 when titled "Icelandic Music and its History."
Mutually Exclusive: ICEL 2410
Attributes: Humanities, Recommended Intro Courses
ICEL 2470 The Viking Age 3 cr
This class examines a range of source texts that document the dynamic, expanding and evolving societies of medieval Scandinavia. From the eighth century onwards, Norse groups, popularly known as the Vikings, sailed out from Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, traveling in every direction. This course analyzes prominent historical “Viking” activities – from raiding and mercenary work to exploration and trade, from conquest and settlement to lawmaking and dispute resolution. Centered on the medieval Nordic cultures, lectures consider such activities in their full geographic context. Norse expansion touched Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, the Baltic, and the North Atlantic including Canada. Students in this course will explore a select survey of sources from the Norse and from the various other cultures they encountered. The goal is to develop a thorough comprehension of major aspects of this important, indeed definitive, era of Scandinavian history and culture. All works will be in English or English translation. May not be held with ICEL 2410 when titled "History of The Viking Age."
Mutually Exclusive: ICEL 2410
Attributes: Humanities, Recommended Intro Courses
ICEL 3200 Intermediate Icelandic 2 6 cr
Language of instruction: Icelandic. Emphasis on advanced syntax and grammar, word formation, and the use of idiomatic phrases. Reading of selected fictional and non-fictional texts, spoken and written discussion, translation exercises, oral presentations and written composition. May not be held with the former ICEL 3230.
Equiv To: ICEL 3230
Attributes: Humanities
ICEL 3210 Romanticism in Icelandic Literature 3 cr
A study of Romanticism and the key players in the Icelandic Romantic movement through a selection of poems, prose texts, and fragments. The class will consider the relationship between Romanticism in Iceland and Romanticism elsewhere in Europe, as well as characteristic themes of Romanticism. All works will be in English or English translation.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: [a minimum of 30 credit hours of university level coursework] or written consent of department head.
Prerequisite: [a minimum of 30 credit hours of university level coursework] or written consent of department head.
Attributes: Humanities
ICEL 3320 Old Norse Mythology 3 cr
This course explores the religion of pre-Christian Scandinavia, focusing on the myths of gods and goddesses as well as the legends of heroes and valkyries, which have been best documented in medieval Icelandic sources. There will be significant discussion of historical context and scholarly interpretations of the medieval literature. All works will be in English or English translation.
Attributes: Humanities
ICEL 3330 Icelandic Sagas in Translation 3 cr
The Icelandic sagas tell stories of outlaws, blood feuds and epic Viking battles. They also contain evidence of Norse pagan practices, the arrival of Christianity in Northern Europe, as well as the earliest documented contact between Europeans and North America´s Indigenous peoples. In this course students will explore numerous Icelandic sagas through a variety of literary, historical, and cultural contexts. All works will be in English or English translation.
Attributes: Humanities
ICEL 3400 Old Icelandic Literature 6 cr
A study of selected Icelandic sagas and Eddic poems.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: written consent of department head.
Prerequisite: written consent of department head.
Attributes: Humanities
ICEL 4420 History of the Icelandic Language 3 cr
A study of the development of the Icelandic language from the twelfth century to the present day.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: written consent of department head.
Prerequisite: written consent of department head.
Attributes: Humanities
ICEL 4440 The Icelanders in Canada 3 cr
Emigration from Iceland to Canada began in 1875. Since then, Icelanders worked with Canadian officials and diplomats to secure a new home for Icelanders as an entire cohesive social group. This course reviews the initial immigration to North America and its development into a “white settler reserve” for Icelanders, the initial hardships, and debates. In addition to language and art, everyday culture will be explored through food and drink. Links to further settlement in Canada and the U.S. will be explored and students will be offered a full appreciation for the complete diaspora and history of Icelanders in America.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: written consent of department head.
Prerequisite: written consent of department head.
Attributes: Humanities
ICEL 4460 Special Topics 3 cr
A seminar course whose content will vary from year to year. The course content may vary. Students can earn multiple credits for this course only when the topic subtitle is different.
PR/CR: A minimum grade of C is required unless otherwise indicated.
Prerequisite: written consent of department head.
Prerequisite: written consent of department head.
Attributes: Humanities