SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR THE HONOUR SCHOOL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

For students commencing the Honour School on or before 1 October 2013

A

1. 1. The subjects of examination in the School of English Language and Literature shall be the English Language and Literature in English, together with such texts or authors as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of the Faculty of English Language and Literature for special study. Candidates shall be permitted to offer, in addition, Special Subjects forming a part of or connected with the study of English Language and Literature in English.
2. 2. No candidate shall be admitted to examination in this school unless he or she either (a) has passed or been exempted from the First Public Examination or (b) has successfully completed the Foundation Course in English Language and Literature at the Department for Continuing Education.
3. 3. The board of the faculty shall by notice from time to time make regulations respecting the examination, and shall have power:
   1. (1) To prescribe authors or portions of authors.
   2. (2) To specify one or more related languages or dialects to be offered either as a necessary or as an optional part of the examination.
   3. (3) To name periods of the history of English Literature and to fix their limits.
   4. (4) To issue lists of Special Subjects in connection either with English Language or with Literature in English, or with both; and to prescribe authors and texts.

B

Candidates shall offer either Course I (a general course in English Language and Literature) or Course II (a special course in English Language and early English Literature). Each course shall consist of eight subjects, as prescribed below.

Every candidate shall, not later than the Friday in the second week of the Michaelmas Full Term preceding the examination, send to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford OX1 4BG, through the Senior Tutor of his or her college or society, a statement to say:

1. (i) whether he or she offers Course I or Course II;
2. (ii) if he or she offers Course I, which subjects he or she offers under the options provided for Subject 7 (Special Authors) and Subject 8 (Special Topics)
3. (iii) if he or she offers Course II, which subjects he or she offers from List B, and, in the case of B1, B2, and B3, whether he or she intends to offer (an) extended essay(s) or sit (the) three-hour paper(s);

New optional subjects may be added to those parts of the syllabus for both Course I and Course II where options are already provided, by regulation published in the Gazette by the beginning of the fifth week of Trinity Term of the year before the year of the examination in which the subjects will first be available.

Course I: General Course in English Language and Literature

Each candidate for Course I shall offer, from the list below, Subjects 1 to 7, and one further subject chosen from Subjects 8 and 9. Candidates may not offer any period of English literature in which they have already satisfied Examiners in a First Public Examination in English. The papers will be of three hours’ duration, unless otherwise specified.

Extended essays

1. (a) Subjects 7 and 8 shall be examined by extended essay except in the case of specified Course II options , and centrally-taught Special Topics on Subject 8.
2. (b) An extended essay shall contain no fewer than 5,000 nor more than 6,000 words.
3. (c) The list of themes for the extended essay for Subject 7 will be published on Thursday of the fifth week of Michaelmas Term preceding the examination. The Paper 8 abstracts must be submitted for approval to the Chair of Examiners, care of the English Faculty Office, by 5 p.m. on Thursday of the fourth week of the Hilary Term preceding the examination; approval of abstracts shall be communicated to candidates on Thursday of the sixth week of that term.
4. (d) Two typed copies of each essay for Subject 7 must be delivered to the Chair of Examiners, Honour School of English Language and Literature, Examination Schools, Oxford, by noon on Thursday of the eighth week of Michaelmas Term; and each essay for Subject 8 by noon on Tuesday of the ninth week after the commencement of Hilary Full Term. A certificate signed by the candidate to the effect that each essay is the candidate's own work, and that the candidate has read the Faculty guidelines on plagiarism, must be presented together with each essay (see (e) below).
5. (e) Every extended essay for Subject 7 must be the work of the candidate alone, and he or she must not discuss with any tutor either his or her choice of theme or the method of handling it. Every extended essay for Subject 8 must be the work of the candidate alone, but he or she may discuss with his or her tutor both the subject and abstract of the essay up until Thursday of sixth week of Hilary Term preceding the examination.
6. (f) Essays previously submitted for the Honour School of English Language and Literature may be re-submitted. No essay will be accepted if it has already been submitted, wholly or substantially, for a final honour school or other degree of this University, or degree of any other institution.
7. (g) Essays deemed to be either too short or of excessive length may be penalised.

Candidates are warned (i) that in the papers for Subjects 3-6 they must not answer questions on individual authors of whom they offer a special study for Subject 7, (ii) that they must avoid duplicating, in their answers to one paper, material that they have already used in answering another paper or in the extended essay under Subject 7 or Subject 8 and must show knowledge, in each of the papers for Subjects 3-6, of other literary genres than that of which they offer a special study for Subject 8.

1. 1. The English Language (a portfolio submitted in year two) The paper will cover the history, use, and theory of the English language, with special reference to literary language. It will consist of two sections: Section A will contain essay questions on a range of topics relating to literary and sociocultural aspects of the English Language past and present. Section B will require candidates to produce detailed, historically and linguistically informed commentary comparing two or more related texts (which may include both literary and non-literary examples) from different periods, styles, or genres. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate their ability to select suitable textual examples and to analyse the language of the examples closely, making use where appropriate of standard reference tools such as the Oxford English Dictionary. The paper will be examined on a portfolio of work, comprising two essays of no more than 2,500 words each. The list of themes for these essays will be divided into Section A and B and will be published on Tuesday of the seventh week of the Trinity Term preceding the examination. Candidates must write on one theme from each section, and two typed copies of each essay must be delivered to the Chair of Examiners, Honour School of English Language and Literature, Examination Schools by noon on Thursday of the ninth week of the same Trinity Term. A certificate, signed by the candidate to the effect that each essay is the candidate's own work, and that the candidate has read the Faculty guidelines on plagiarism, must be presented together with each essay. Once submitted, the essays will then be held over until the following Trinity Term, when they will be examined at the same time as Papers 2-9. Every essay must be the work of the candidate alone. Candidates may consult tutors after the themes have been circulated, but may not submit draft essays to tutors for detailed feedback. Essays previously submitted for the Honour School of English Language and Literature may be resubmitted. Apart from the above exception, no essay will be accepted if it has already been submitted, wholly or substantially, for a final honour school or other degree of this University, or degree of any other institution. Essays deemed to be either too short or of excessive length may be penalised. Candidates must avoid duplicating material used in this paper when answering other papers.
2. 2. Shakespeare (one paper) The paper will include questions on Shakespeare's relation to contemporary dramatists. Candidates must address more than one work by Shakespeare in at least two of their answers.
3. 3. English Literature from 1100 to 1509 (two papers)
   1. (a) A three-hour paper of questions on Medieval English Literature;
   2. (b) A two-hour paper consisting of passages for critical comment, to be set from the following texts:
      1. (a) Chaucer, Troilus and Criseyde (ed. L. D. Benson)
      2. (b) Ancrene Wisse, Books 6 and 7 (ed. Shepherd)
      3. (c) Langland, Piers Plowman, B Text, Passus XVI-XX (ed. A. V. C. Schmidt)
      4. (d) Pearl (ed. E. V. Gordon)
      5. (e) Malory, Morte Darthur, Books XVIII-XXI (ed. E. Vinaver)
      6. (f) Henryson, Fables (ed. D. Fox)
   3. (A passage or passages will be set from each of the specific texts. Candidates will be required to write on two passages, one from Troilus and Criseyde, and one from one of the other texts.)
4. 4. English Literature from 1509 to 1642 (one paper) Candidates who have satisfied the Moderators in Honour Moderations in Classics and English may not offer this paper. They may offer instead one of the following:
   1. (a) English Literature from 1832-1900;
   2. (b) English Literature from 1900 to the present day.
5. 5. English Literature from 1642 to 1740 (one paper)
6. 6. English Literature from 1740 to 1832 (one paper)
7. 7. Special Authors (an extended essay of not fewer than 5,000 nor more than 6,000 words) (see introduction to regulations for Course I) Candidates may offer any one of the following, provided that they may not offer in the Final Honour School any authors they offered in options (c), (h), (i), (j), (k), or (l) of Paper 4 of Moderations in English Language and Literature.
   1. (a) (i) The Beowulf Poet, or (ii) Alfred, or (iii) The Exeter Book. (b) (i) Chaucer, or (ii) Langland, or (iii) the N-Town Cycle.
   2. (c) (i) Spenser, or (ii) Milton, or (iii) Jonson.
   3. (d) (i) Marvell, or (ii) Dryden, or (iii) Eliza Haywood.
   4. (e) (i) Wordsworth, or (ii) Austen, or (iii) Byron.
   5. (f) (i) Tennyson, or (ii) Dickens, or (iii) Wilde.
   6. (g) (i) Conrad, or (ii) Yeats, or (iii) Woolf. (h) (i) Walcott, or (ii) Roth, or (iii) Friel.
   7. (i) (i) Emerson, or (ii) Dickinson, or (iii) Faulkner.
   8. Named authors will be reviewed in cycles of three years. Notice of new named authors will be published in the University Gazette by the beginning of the fifth week of Trinity Term two years before first examination.
8. 8. Special Topics
9. Candidates may offer any one of the following (to be assessed by an extended essay of not fewer than 5,000 nor more than 6,000 words unless otherwise specified. For all extended essays candidates should submit to the Chair of Examiners by 5 p.m. on Thursday of the fourth week of Hilary Term preceding the examination an abstract describing their area of study, of no more than 100 words.)
   1. (a) An extended essay in any subject area of English Language or Literature in English. Candidates should show such historical and/or contextual knowledge as is necessary for the profitable study of the topic concerned. Candidates should show knowledge of more than one author.
   2. (b) Any one of the following Course II options:
      1. i. Linguistic Theory (one paper; as specified for Course II paper B4)
      2. ii. Medieval and Renaissance Romance (extended essay; as specified for Course II paper B7a)
      3. iii. Scottish Literature pre-1600 (extended essay; as specified for Course II paper B7b)
      4. iv. Old Norse (one paper, as specified in Course II paper B15)
      5. v. Medieval French Literature 1100-1300 or Medieval French Literature 1300-1500 (one paper, as specified for Course II papers B19 and B20)
      6. vi. Medieval Welsh Language and Literature I or Medieval Welsh Language and Literature II (one paper, as specified for Course II papers B21 and B22)
      7. vii. Classical Literature (extended essay, as specified for Course II paper B24).
   3. (c) An extended essay, unless otherwise stipulated, on any one of the centrally-taught Special Topics from the list for the year concerned which will be published by the English Faculty Office by the beginning of the fifth week of the Trinity Term one year before the examination.
   4. (d) Victorian Literature (1832-1900) (one paper of three hours’ duration as specified under 4(a).
   5. (e) Modern Literature (1900 to the present day) (one paper of three hours’ duration as specified under 4(b).
10. 9. Introduction to Medieval Studies: Old English Literature (one paper as specified for Course II, Subject B25)

Course II: Special Course in English Language and Early English Literature

Each candidate shall offer the five subjects of List A below, and three subjects chosen from List B, subject to the restrictions set out below. Candidates may not offer more than two papers as extended essays.

Extended essays

1. (a) The following subjects will be assessed by extended essay only: B5 Old English Special Authors, B6 Medieval and Renaissance Special Authors, B7 Special Topics, B17 Old Norse-Icelandic Literature, and B24 Classical Literature.
2. (b) The following subjects will be assessed by extended essay or examination: B1 Old English Philology, B2 Middle English Dialectology, B3 Modern English Philology. Candidates will be required to specify their chosen mode of examination for these papers on their registration form and may not revert from this choice.
3. (c) Subjects B1 and B2 shall require two essays, each not exceeding 3,000 words. Subjects B3, B5, B6, B7, B17 and B24 shall require an extended essay which shall contain no fewer than 5,000 nor more than 6,000 words. Extended essays for subjects B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6 shall be on a theme chosen from a list published by the examiners. The titles of extended essays for subjects B7, B17, and B24 shall be devised by the candidates themselves.
4. (d) The list of themes for subjects B1, B3, B5, and B6 shall be published on Thursday of the fifth week of Michaelmas Term next before the examination. The list of themes for B2 shall be published on Thursday of the sixth week of Hilary Term next before the examination. The titles of subjects B7, B17, and B24 shall be devised by the candidates themselves, but must be submitted for approval to the Chair of Examiners, care of the English Faculty Office, by 5 p.m. on Thursday of the fourth week of the Hilary Term preceding the examination; approval of abstracts and titles shall be communicated to candidates on Thursday of the sixth week of that term.
5. (e) Two typed copies of each essay for B1, B3, B5, and B6 must be delivered to the Chair of Examiners, Honour School of English Language and Literature (Course II), Examination Schools, Oxford, by noon on Thursday of the eighth week of Michaelmas Term; and those for B2, B7, B17 and B24 by noon on Tuesday of the ninth week after the commencement of Hilary Full Term. A certificate signed by the candidate to the effect that each essay is the candidate's own work, and that the candidate has read the Faculty guidelines on plagiarism, must be presented together with each essay (see (f) below).
6. (f) Every extended essay for subjects B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6 shall be the candidate's own work. Every extended essay must be the work of the candidate alone, and he or she must not discuss with any tutor either his or her choice of theme or the method of handling it. Every extended essay for subjects B7, B17, and B24 must be the work of the candidate alone, but he or she may discuss with his or her tutor both the subject and proposed abstract or title of the essay up until Thursday of sixth week of Hilary Term preceding the examination.
7. (g) Essays previously submitted for the Honour School of English Language and Literature may be resubmitted. No essay will be accepted if it has already been submitted, wholly or substantially, for another Honour School or degree of this University, or for a degree of any other institution.
8. (h) Essays deemed to be either too short or of excessive length may be penalised.

List A: English Language and Literature (compulsory subjects)

1. 1. English Literature 600-1100 (one paper) Candidates will be expected to show knowledge of a wide range of Old English literature and should show an awareness of the historical and cultural contexts of the period.
2. 2. English Literature 1100-1530 (one paper) Candidates will be expected to show knowledge of a wide range of Middle English literature, and should show an awareness of the historical and cultural contexts of the literature of the period. Candidates should not answer on this paper on works by Chaucer on which they intend to answer on paper A3(a); candidates should not write on this paper on Langland and/or Gower if they are answering on those authors on paper A3(b).
3. 3. Chaucer, Langland, and Gower (two papers) Candidates will be required to take two papers as follows:
   1. (a) A three-hour paper of questions on Chaucer. Questions will be set that require a wide knowledge of Chaucer's writings. Candidates will be required to answer two questions.
   2. (b ) A two-hour paper of questions on Langland and Gower and on comparative studies of the three authors. Candidates will be required to write one essay.
4. 4. Introduction to Textual Criticism (one paper ‘of three hours’ duration with an additional 15 minutes reading time) Candidates will study Old and Middle English texts as specified in the Handbook for Final Honour Students, where further detailed discussion of the scope of the paper can be found. Question 1, which will be compulsory, will consist of a choice of directed commentaries on passages from the specified texts. Candidates must select three commentary exercises. Rubrics will direct candidates towards specific aspects of textual criticism. Candidates must answer one further essay question.
5. 5. The History of the English Language to c.1750 (a portfolio submitted in year two) This paper will cover the development of the written language from the earliest records to c.1750, with particular attention to the emergence of a standard form. The paper will be examined on a portfolio of work, comprising two essays of no more than 2,500 words each. The list of themes for these essays will be divided into Section A and B and will be published on Tuesday of the seventh week of the Trinity Term preceding the examination. Candidates will be required to submit two pieces of work, each one of between 2,000-2,500 words. They will be required to submit one piece of work in response to discursive essay questions (Section A) and one piece of close commentary work in response to directed questions (Section B). Candidates will be required to demonstrate knowledge of the language of two consecutive periods from those covered in the paper. The essay questions in Section A will cover subjects such as phonology, morphology, syntax and word order. Broader questions will also be set, but with the understanding that candidates will use detailed linguistic knowledge as the basis of their answer. The commentary questions in Section B will require students to find their own passages for analysis. Credit will be given for the choice of material as well as the quality of its analysis. Passages must not exceed 100 lines in total (i.e. 100 lines altogether, not separately). Candidates must write on one theme from each section, and two typed copies of each essay must be delivered to the Chair of Examiners, Honour School of English Language and Literature, Examination Schools by noon on Thursday of the ninth week of the same Trinity Term. A certificate, signed by the candidate to the effect that each essay is the candidate’s own work, and that the candidate has read the Faculty guidelines on plagiarism, must be presented together with each essay. Once submitted, the essays will then be held over until the following Trinity Term, when they will be examined at the same time as papers for subjects A1-4 and B1-26. Every essay must be the work of the candidate alone. Candidates may not consult tutors after the paper have been circulated. Essays previously submitted for the Honour School of English Language and Literature may be resubmitted. Apart from the above exception, no essay will be accepted if it has already been submitted, wholly or substantially, for a final honour school or other degree of this University, or degree of any other institution. Essays deemed to be either too short or of excessive length may be penalised. Candidates must avoid duplicating material used in this paper when answering other papers.

List B: English Language and Literature and Subsidiary Languages (optional subjects)

Candidates are required to note that the availability of options is subject to the provision of teaching in the year in question.

1. 1. Old English Philology (extended essay or one paper) Candidates should have made a study of the Old English language in its various dialects up to c.1100, paying particular attention to the evidence available from primary materials; they will be expected to have such awareness of Germanic philology as is necessary for an understanding of the background to Old English. All aspects of the language are included: its orthography, phonology, morphology, syntax, lexis. No texts are prescribed, but those in Sweet's Anglo-Saxon Reader (rev. Whitelock, 1967), nos ii, vi-viii, xiv, xvi, xxxii-xxxviii, indicate the range of dialects to be covered. In the three-hour paper the first question (which will be compulsory) will require comment on passages set from texts in these dialects. Candidates taking the paper by extended essay will be required to write two extended essays, each a maximum of 3,000 and a minimum of 2,500 words in length, on topics from a list to be published by the examiners in the fifth week of Michaelmas Term next preceding the examination.
2. 2. Middle English Dialectology (extended essay or one paper) Candidates will be expected to have made a study of a wide range of Middle English and Middle Scots dialects from c.1100 to c.1500, paying particular attention to the evidence available from primary materials. All aspects of the language are included: its orthography, phonology, morphology, syntax, lexis. No texts are prescribed, but those in Burrow and Turville-Petre (eds), A Book of Middle English, nos 2-4, 8-9, 11, 14, and Sisam (ed.), Fourteenth-Century Verse and Prose no. 10, indicate the range of dialects to be covered. In the three-hour paper the first question, which will be compulsory, will require comment on passages set from texts in these dialects. Candidates taking the paper by extended essay will be required to write two extended essays, each a maximum of 3,000 and a minimum of 2,500 words in length, on topics from a list to be published by the examiners in sixth week of Hilary Term preceding the examination.
3. 3. Modern English Philology (extended essay or one paper) Candidates will be expected to show an understanding of developments in the written and spoken language with reference to the period from c.1500 to the present day, paying particular attention to the evidence available from primary materials. The paper involves the consideration of all aspects of the language, including orthography, phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexis. There are no prescribed texts, but candidates are expected to read a range of writings in the language in this period. Candidates must answer questions from both Section A, texts for comment and transcription, and Section B, questions on the history and development of the language in the period in question. Candidates taking the paper by extended essay will be required to write one extended essay of between 5,000 and 6,000 words in length, on topics from a list to be published by the examiners in the fifth week of Michaelmas Term preceding the examination.
4. 4. Linguistic Theory (one paper) Candidates will be expected to show a general knowledge of theoretical linguistics with special reference to phonology, phonetics, grammar, lexis, semantics, and discourse structure and pragmatics. Opportunities will be given to answer questions on major developments in linguistic theory since 1800.
5. 5. Old English Special Authors (extended essay) Candidates must answer on any one of the Beowulf poet, Alfred, or The Exeter Book. Candidates answering substantially on any of these writers in paper A1, English Literature 600-1100 may not offer the same writer in this paper. Candidates answering on Aelfric on paper A4 should not discuss the same texts in detail in this paper.
6. 6. Medieval and Renaissance Special Authors (extended essay) As defined in Course I Subject 7 (b) and (c) for the year concerned, except that candidates may not answer on any author made the focus of an answer elsewhere in the examination.
7. 7. Special Topics (extended essay)
8. Candidates may choose one of the following:
   1. (a) Medieval and Renaissance Romance
   2. (b) Scottish Literature pre-1600
   3. (c) An extended essay of not fewer than 5,000 nor more than 6,000 words, in any subject area of English Language, or Literature in English. [Course I Subject 8a] Candidates should show such historical and/or contextual knowledge as is necessary for the profitable study of the topic concerned. Candidates should show knowledge of more than one author. Candidates should submit to the Chair of Examiners by 5 p.m. on Thursday of the fourth week of Hilary Term preceding the examination an abstract describing their area of study, of no more than 100 words.
   4. (d) Any one of the Special Topics for the year concerned, as published in the University Gazette by the beginning of the fifth week of the Trinity Term one year before the examination.
9. 8. English Literature from 1509 to 1642 (one paper) The paper will be the same as that set for Course I (Subject 4), but candidates who offer Course II must not answer questions on authors on whom they have answered questions in paper A2, or on whom they offer an optional subject. Candidates who have satisfied the Moderators in Honour Moderations in Classics and English may not offer this option.
10. 9. Shakespeare (one paper) The paper will be the same as that set for Course I (Subject 2).
11. 10. The Archaeology of Anglo-Saxon England, seventh to ninth centuries AD (one paper) Questions will be set on such topics as the archaeology of kingship; Celtic influence on Anglo-Saxon material culture; rural settlement and landscape; the archaeology of the Conversion; the emergence of towns; and the ‘Golden Age’ of Northumbria. The identification, description and discussion of artefacts will be compulsory.
12. 11. Gothic (one paper) Candidates will be expected to show a knowledge of the elements of Gothic phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexicology, and to show special knowledge of the Gospels in Gothic. Three questions must be answered, including a compulsory translation set from passages from the surviving parts of the translation of St Mark's gospel and of II Timothy, as printed in J. Wright, Grammar of the Gothic Language (2nd edn. rev. O. L. Sayce, 1954); linguistic commentary may be required.
13. 12. Old Saxon (one paper) Candidates will be expected to show a knowledge of the elements of Old Saxon phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexicology. They will be expected to have made special study of the language of the Heliand, and to show detailed knowledge of its text from l. 3516 to the end (l. 5983) as edited by O. Behagel (9th edn. rev. B. Taeger, 1984), and of the Genesis fragments, as edited by A. N. Doane (1991). Three questions must be answered, including a compulsory translation and comment question.
14. 13. Old High German (one paper) Candidates will be expected to show a detailed knowledge of the elements of Old High German phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexicology, and to have made a special study of the texts set for Paper V (I): German in the Honour School of Modern Languages. Passages for translation and linguistic commentary, general linguistic questions, and literary questions on these texts will be set. Three questions must be answered, including a compulsory translation and commentary question.
15. 14. Middle High German (one paper) Candidates will be expected to study the texts prescribed for Paper IX: German, of the Honour School of Modern Languages, and to show detailed knowledge of three of them. Passages for translation and literary commentary, and general literary questions on these texts will be set. Three questions must be answered, including a compulsory translation and commentary question.
16. 15. Old Norse (one paper) Three questions must be answered, including one compulsory translation and commentary question from passages from Íslendingabók; Hrafnkels saga Freysgoða; Skírnismál; Hamðismál; Snorri's Edda (ed. Faulkes, Oxford, 1982): Gylfaginning, ch. 43 to end. Literary questions on these texts will be set and candidates will also be given an opportunity to show a knowledge of the elements of Old Norse phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexicology.
17. 16. Old Norse Texts (one paper) Candidates will be expected to have made a special study of the following: Auðunar þáttr; Víga Glúms saga; Völundarkviða; Atlakviða. They will be expected to have read but not to have studied in detail, Fóstbrœðra saga; Gísla saga Súrssonar; Hervarar saga; Gylfaginning; Völuspá; Hávamál. Three questions must be answered, including one compulsory translation and commentary question from passages from the texts set for special study. Literary questions will be set on all the set texts. This subject may be offered only by candidates who also offer Subject B15.
18. 17. Old Norse-Icelandic Literature (extended essay) Candidates will be expected to have read widely, especially in Old Icelandic prose. This subject may be offered only by candidates who also offer either Subject B15 or Subjects B15 and B16.
19. 18. Old French Language 1150-1250 (one paper) Candidates will be expected to show a knowledge of the elements of Old French (including Anglo-Norman) orthography, morphology, phonology, syntax, and lexicology, paying particular attention to the evidence available from primary materials. Three questions must be answered, including one compulsory translation and commentary question on passages set from La Vie de S. Alexis, ed. C. Storey; La Chanson de Roland, ll. 1-660, ed. F. Whitehead; Piramus et Tisbé, ed. C. de Boer; La folie Tristan d'Oxford, ed. E. Hoepffner (2nd edn.), Aucassin et Nicolette, ed. M. Roques; La Seinte Resureccion (ANTS 4).
20. 19. Medieval French Literature 1100-1300 (one paper) Candidates will be expected to have made a special study of at least two of the following: La Chanson de Roland, Chrétien de Troyes, Yvain; La Mort le roi Artu; Le Roman de la Rose, ll. 1-4058. Candidates will also be expected to have read, but not to have studied in detail, either Le Roman de La Rose, ll. 4059-21780 or at least three of the following: Béroul, Tristan; Marie de France, Lais; Charroi de Nîmes; Aucassin et Nicolette; Jean Renart, La Lai de l'ombre; Wace, Roman de Brut, 9005-13298; Jean Bodel, Le Jeu de Saint Nicolas, and Villehardouin, La Conquête de Constantinople, Le Roman de Renart, ed. M. Roques, ll. 3733-4796. Three questions must be answered, including one requiring literary commentary on passages from the set texts, of which candidates must answer one. Translation will not be required.
21. 20. Medieval French Literature 1300-1500 (one paper) Candidates will be expected to have made a special study of the following: Guillaume de Machaut, Le Jugement du roy de Behaigne; Christine de Pisan, Epistre au dieu d'amours; François Villon, Le Testament. Candidates will also be expected to have read at least three of the following: Machaut, La Fonteine amoureuse, Machaut, Le Livre du Voir-Dit; Alain Chartier, La Belle Dame sans Mercy; Alain Chartier, La Quadrilogue invectif, Charles d'Orléans, Ballades et rondeaux; Les Quinze Joies de mariage. Three questions must be answered, including one requiring literary commentary on passages from the set texts, of which candidates must answer one. Translation will not be required.
22. 21. Medieval Welsh Language and Literature I (one paper) Candidates will be expected to show a knowledge of the elements of Medieval Welsh phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexicology. Opportunities will be provided to discuss the literary qualities of texts. Three questions must be answered, including one compulsory translation and commentary question from passages from Pwyll Pendeuic Dyuet, ed. R. L. Thomson (1957, repr. 1972), Branwen Uerch Lyr, ed. D. S. Thomson (1961, repr. 1968), Poems of the Cywyddwyr, ed. E. I. Rowlands (1976) nos 1, 2, 4, 7, 13, 19, 21-4, Gwaith Dafydd ap Gwilym, ed. T. Parry (1979), nos 2, 23, 26, 27, 42, 48, 84, 87, 114, 117, 122, 124. This paper may not be taken by candidates offering B22 Medieval Welsh Language and Literature II.
23. 22. Medieval Welsh Language and Literature II (one paper) Candidates will be expected to show a knowledge of the elements of Old and Middle Welsh phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexicology. Opportunities will be provided to discuss the literary qualities of the prescribed texts. Three questions must be answered, including one compulsory translation and commentary question from passages from Pedeir Keinc y Mabinogi, ed. I. Williams (1930), Culhwch and Olwen, ed. R. Bromwich and D. S. Evans (1992), ‘The Juvencus Poems’, ed. I. Williams, The Beginnings of Welsh Poetry (1980, 1990) Gwaith Llywelyn Fardd I ac Eraill o Feirdd y Ddeuddegfed Ganrif, ed. M. E. Owen et al. (1994), nos 6-15, 18-21, Poems of the Cywyddwyr, ed. E. I. Rowlands (1976), nos 1, 2, 4, 7, 13, 19, 21-4, Gwaith Dafydd ap Gwilym, ed. T. Parry (1979), nos 2, 13, 23, 26, 27, 28, 42, 48, 84, 87, 114, 117, 122, 124. They will be expected to have read but not to have studied in detail Breudwyt Ronabwy, ed. M. Richards (1984), Peredur, ed. G. Goetinck (1976), Gwaith Iolo Goch, ed. D. R. Johnston (1988). This paper may not be taken by candidates offering B21 Medieval Welsh Language and Literature I.
24. 23. Old and Early Middle Irish Language and Literature (one paper) Candidates will be expected to show a knowledge of the elements of Old Irish phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexicology. They will be given an opportunity to comment on the literary qualities of the prescribed texts. Three questions must be answered, including one compulsory translation and commentary question from passages from Stories from the Táin, ed. J. Strachan and O. Bergin (1944), Scéla Mucce Meic Dathó, ed. R. Thurneysen (1951), Longes mac nUislenn, ed. V. Hull (1949), Early Irish Lyrics, ed. G. Murphy (1956), nos 1-3, 5.
25. 24. Classical Literature (extended essay) Candidates will be expected to have studied one of the forms specified below in Greek and/or Latin Literature (and should specify their choice on their entry form).
    1. (i) Epic
    2. (ii) Tragedy
26. 25. Introduction to Medieval Studies: Old English Literature Three questions must be answered, including one compulsory question of either translation or commentary. Commentary passages will be taken from The Dream of the Rood, The Wanderer, The Battle of Maldon, Aelfric's life of St Edmund, Bede's account of the poet Caedmon and from Beowulf, Beowulf’s fight with Grendel (ll. 702-897). Literary questions will cover these texts, but candidates will also be given an opportunity to show a knowledge of a wider range of Old English literature, and of aspects of Old English history, culture, and language. Candidates may not offer this paper if it is one in which they have previously satisfied Examiners in any First Public Examination in English.

[From 1 October 2014: SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR THE HONOUR SCHOOL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

For students commencing the Honour School on or after 1 October 2014

A

1. 1. The subjects of examination in the School of English Language and Literature shall be the English Language and Literature in English, together with such Special Options, texts or authors as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of the Faculty of English Language and Literature.
2. 2. No candidate shall be admitted to examination in this school unless he or she either (a) has passed or been exempted from the First Public Examination or (b) has successfully completed the Foundation Course in English Language and Literature at the Department for Continuing Education.
3. 3. The Board of the Faculty shall by notice from time to time make regulations respecting the examination, and shall have power:
   1. (1) To prescribe authors or portions of authors.
   2. (2) To specify one or more related languages or dialects to be offered either as a necessary or as an optional part of the examination.
   3. (3) To name periods of the history of English Literature and to fix their limits.
   4. (4) To issue lists of Special Options in connection either with English Language or with Literature in English, or with both; and to prescribe authors and texts.

B

Candidates shall offer either Course I (a general course in English Language and Literature) or Course II (a special course in English Language and early English Literature). Each course shall consist of seven subjects, as prescribed below.

1. 1. Submitted work
   1. (a) Subjects 1, 6 and 7 in Course I, and Subjects 4, 5, 6 and 7 in Course II, shall be examined by submission.
   2. (b) Two typed copies of each extended essay or portfolio essay must be delivered to the Chair of Examiners, Honour School of English Language and Literature, Examination Schools, High Street, according to the deadlines specified in the regulations for each subject. It is additionally strongly recommended that the candidate keep a third copy of his or her submission. A certificate signed by the candidate to the effect that each extended essay or portfolio is the candidate's own work, and that the candidate has read the Faculty guidelines on plagiarism, and observed the specific requirements in (c) below, must be presented together with each submission.
   3. (c) Every extended essay and portfolio must be the work of the candidate alone, and he or she may not discuss with any tutor either his or her choice of content or the method of handling it after the last date indicated in the regulations for each subject.
   4. (d) Essays previously submitted for the Honour School of English Language and Literature may be re-submitted. No essay will be accepted if it has already been submitted, wholly or substantially, for a final honour school or other degree of this University, or degree of any other institution.
   5. (e) Essays may be penalised that are deemed to be either too short or of excessive length in relation to the word limits specified in the regulations for each subject.
2. 2. Course I: General Course in English Language and Literature Each candidate for Course I shall offer all subjects from the list below. Candidates may not offer any period of English literature in which they have already satisfied Examiners in a First Public Examination in English. The subjects will be examined by written examinations of three hours’ duration, unless otherwise specified. Examinations will be held in the Trinity Term of the final year of the Honour School. Candidates are warned (i) that in the papers for Subjects 1-5 they must not answer questions on any topics of which they offer a special study for Subject 6 or Subject 7 and (ii) that they must avoid duplicating, in their answers to one paper, material that they have already used in answering another paper or in the extended essay under Subject 6 or Subject 7.
   1. 1. Shakespeare (a portfolio submitted in year 3) The portfolio will consist of three essays of not fewer than 1,300 and not more than 1,500 words each. Footnotes will be included in the total word count, but bibliographies do not count towards the limit. Themes for the portfolio essays will be published on Monday of the second week of the Hilary Term preceding the examination. Candidates must write three essays in response to three of the published themes. Candidates must address more than one work by Shakespeare in at least two of their portfolio essays. Following the publication of themes for this subject, the candidate must neither discuss his or her choice of themes nor the method of handling them with any tutor. Every portfolio essay produced for the Shakespeare paper must be the work of the candidate alone, but he or she may discuss with his or her tutor the subjects and approach to the essays up until the stated publication date of the portfolio themes. The candidate must deliver two typed copies of each portfolio essay to the Chair of Examiners, Honour School of English Language and Literature, Examination Schools, High Street by noon on Thursday of the fourth week of the Hilary Term preceding the examination. A certificate, signed by the candidate to the effect that each essay is the candidate’s own work, and that the candidate has read the Faculty guidelines on plagiarism, must be presented together with the submission (see the introductory regulations for ‘submitted work’ for the Honour School of English Language and Literature).
   2. 2. Literature in English from 1350 – 1550 Candidates must answer two essay questions and one commentary question, as indicated in the rubric for the examination. Passages for commentary will be taken from Chaucer, Troilus and Criseyde (ed. L.D. Benson). The paper will be shared with Course II candidates [see Course II, subject 3 below].
   3. 3. Literature in English from 1550 to 1660, excluding the works of Shakespeare Candidates who have satisfied the Moderators in the First Public Examination in Classics and English may not offer this paper, and instead must offer Literature in English 650 – 1100 [see Course II, subject 1 below].
   4. 4. Literature in English from 1660 to 1760
   5. 5. Literature in English from 1760 to 1830
   6. 6. Special Options (an extended essay of not fewer than 5,000 and not more than 6,000 words) (see the introductory regulations for ‘submitted work’ for Course I). All Special Options shall be centrally taught. A list of available Special Options shall be published to candidates by the end of the seventh week of the Hilary Term preceding the year of examination. Enrolment to Special Options will be administered by the English Faculty Office and will take place in the Trinity Term in the first year of the Honour School. Confirmation of the Special Option shall be provided to candidates by the end of the sixth week of the same Trinity Term. Examination for this paper shall be by an extended essay of not fewer than 5,000 and not more than 6,000 words. Footnotes will be included in the total word count, but bibliographies do not count towards the limit. The theme for the essay shall be formulated by the student in discussion with the option convenors. The candidate may not discuss with any tutor either his or her choice of content or the method of handling it after the conclusion of teaching for the Special Options paper on Friday of the fifth week of the Michaelmas Term preceding the examination. Two typed copies of the extended essay must be delivered to the Chair of Examiners, Honour School of English Language and Literature, Examination Schools, High Street, by noon on Thursday of the eighth week of Michaelmas Term. A certificate, signed by the candidate to the effect that each essay is the candidate’s own work, and that the candidate has read the Faculty guidelines on plagiarism, must be presented together with the submission (see the introductory regulations for ‘submitted work’ for the Honour School of English Language and Literature).
   7. 7. Dissertation (an extended essay of not fewer than 7,000 nor more than 8,000 words) (see the introductory regulations for ‘submitted work’ for the Honour School of English Language and Literature). Footnotes will be included in the total word count, but bibliographies do not count towards the limit. Candidates may offer an extended essay in any subject area of English Language or Literature in English. Candidates should show such historical and/or contextual knowledge as is necessary for the profitable study of the topic concerned. Candidates should submit to the Chair of Examiners, care of the English Faculty Office, by 5p.m. on Thursday of the eighth week of the Michaelmas Term preceding the examination, an abstract of no more than 100 words, describing their area of study. Confirmation of his or her abstract will be received from the Chair of Examiners by Thursday of the first week of the Hilary Term preceding the examination. The candidate may not discuss with any tutor either his or her choice of content or the method of handling it after Friday of the sixth week of the Hilary Term preceding the examination. Two typed copies of the essay shall be delivered to the Chair of Examiners, Honour School of English Language and Literature, Examination Schools, High Street, by noon on Tuesday of the ninth week after the commencement of Hilary Full Term. A certificate, signed by the candidate to the effect that each essay is the candidate’s own work, and that the candidate has read the Faculty guidelines on plagiarism, must be presented together with the submission (see the introductory regulations for ‘submitted work’ for the Honour School of English Language and Literature).
3. 3. Course II: Special Course in English Language and Early English Literature Each candidate shall offer Subjects 1 to 4 and Subjects 6 and 7 below, and may choose between Subject 5 (The Material Text) or Course I Subject 1 (Shakespeare). Candidates may not offer any period of English literature in which they have already satisfied Examiners in a First Public Examination in English. The papers will be written examinations of three hours’ duration, unless otherwise specified. Written examinations will be held in the Trinity Term of the final year of the Honour School. Candidates are warned (i) that in the papers for Subjects 1-5 they must not answer questions on any topics of which they offer a special study for Subject 6 or Subject 7 and (ii) that they must avoid duplicating, in their answers to one paper, material that they have already used in answering another paper or in the extended essay under Subject 6 or Subject 7.
   1. 1. Literature in English 650-1100 Candidates will be expected to show knowledge of a wide range of Old English literature and should show an awareness of the historical and cultural contexts of the period.
   2. 2. Medieval English and Related Literatures 1066-1550 A paper on a specified genre or theme. The paper shall be examined by a written examination of three hours’ duration, in which candidates shall write two essays of equal weighting. Across the paper as a whole, candidates must demonstrate (a) knowledge of literature written before 1350; and (b) knowledge of writing in insular or European languages other than English, which are expected to have been studied in translation. The genre or theme for the paper shall be published in the Handbook for the Honour School of English Language and Literature by noughth week of Michaelmas Full Term in the first year of study for the Honour School. The specified genre or theme may be subject to periodic review.
   3. 3. Literature in English 1350 – 1550 (shared with Course I) [as specified for the Honour School of English Language and Literature, Course I, Subject 2].
   4. 4. The History of the English Language to c.1800 This paper will cover the development of the written language from the earliest records to c.1800, with particular attention to the emergence of a standard form. The paper will be examined on a portfolio of work, comprising two essays of no more than 2,500 words each. Footnotes will be included in the total word count, but bibliographies do not count towards the limit. The list of themes for these essays will be divided into Section A and B and will be published on Tuesday of the seventh week of the Trinity Term preceding the examination. Candidates may not consult tutors after the list of themes has been circulated. Candidates will be required to submit two pieces of work, each one of between 2,000-2,500 words. They will be required to submit one piece of work in response to discursive essay questions (Section A) and one piece of close commentary work in response to directed questions (Section B). The commentary questions in Section B will require students to find their own passages for analysis. Passages must not exceed 100 lines in total (i.e. 100 lines altogether, not separately). Copies of the texts or passages used in Section B must be included as an appendix to the portfolio. Two typed copies of the portfolio must be delivered to the Chair of Examiners, Honour School of English Language and Literature, Examination Schools, High Street, by noon on Thursday of the ninth week of the same Trinity Term. A certificate, signed by the candidate to the effect that each essay is the candidate’s own work, and that the candidate has read the Faculty guidelines on plagiarism, must be presented together with the submission (see the introductory regulations for ‘submitted work’ for the Honour School of English Language and Literature). Once submitted, the essays will then be held over until the following Trinity Term, when they will be examined at the same time as papers for Course II subjects 1 – 3 and 5 – 7.
   5. 5. One of the following:
      1. (a) The Material Text (a portfolio submitted in year three) Candidates will study Old and Middle English texts in their original manuscript context. The portfolio will consist of one commentary answer and one essay, of not fewer than 2,000 and not more than 2,500 words each. Footnotes will be included in the total word count, but bibliographies do not count towards the limit. Themes for the portfolio commentary and essay will be published on Monday of the second week of the Hilary Term preceding the examination. Following their publication, the candidate must not discuss his or her choice of themes with any tutor, nor the method of handling the themes. Every portfolio commentary and essay produced for the Material Text paper must be the work of the candidate alone, but he or she may discuss with his or her tutor the subjects and approach to the essays up until the stated publication date of the portfolio themes. The candidate must deliver two typed copies of the portfolio to the Chair of Examiners, Honour School of English Language and Literature, Examination Schools, High Street, by noon on Thursday of the fourth week of the Hilary Term preceding the examination. A certificate, signed by the candidate to the effect that each essay is the candidate’s own work, and that the candidate has read the Faculty guidelines on plagiarism, must be presented together with the submission (see the introductory regulations for ‘submitted work’ for the Honour School of English Language and Literature).
      2. (b) Shakespeare (a portfolio submitted in year three) [as specified for the Honour School of English Language and Literature, Course I, Subject 1].
   6. 6. Special Options For this paper Course II candidates may choose ONE of the following:
      1. (a) Literature in English 1550 -1660 [as specified for the Honour School of English Language and Literature, Course I, Subject 3];
      2. (b) any Special Option from the list published for Course I candidates [as specified for the Honour School of English Language and Literature, Course I, Subject 6];
      3. (c) any Special Option from the list published for Course II candidates.
      Option (a) will be examined by an examination of three hours’ duration in Trinity Term of the final year. A list of available Special Options for (b) and (c) shall be published to Course II candidates by the end of the seventh week of the Hilary Term in the first year of the Honour School. Enrolment to Special Options will be administered by the English Faculty Office and will take place in the Trinity Term in the first year of the Honour School. Confirmation of the Special Option shall be provided to candidates by the end of the sixth week of the same Trinity Term. Examination for options (b) and (c) shall be by an extended essay of not fewer than 5,000 and not more than 6,000 words, except where specified in the published list of options. Footnotes will be included in the total word count, but bibliographies do not count towards the limit. The theme for the essay shall be formulated by the student in discussion with the option convenors. The candidate may not discuss with any tutor either his or her choice of content or the method of handling it after the conclusion of teaching for the Special Options paper on Friday of the fifth week of the Michaelmas Term preceding the examination. Two typed copies of the extended essay must be delivered to the Chair of Examiners, Honour School of English Language and Literature, Examination Schools, High Street, by noon on Thursday of the eighth week of Michaelmas Term preceding the examination. A certificate, signed by the candidate to the effect that each essay is the candidate’s own work, and that the candidate has read the Faculty guidelines on plagiarism, must be presented together with the submission (see the introductory regulations for ‘submitted work’ for the Honour School of English Language and Literature).
   7. 7. Dissertation (an extended essay of not fewer than 7,000 nor more than 8,000 words) [as specified for the Honour School of English Language and Literature, Course I, Subject 7].]