NFI1100 – Runology - General Introduction
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Choose semester
Course content
Runology is concerned with some 1300 years of the history of writing. Runes constituted the script used by many Germanic peoples from the second century A.D. Their use died out in Norway around 1400. This course spans the entire history of runes and gives an overview of both the secondary literature and the inscriptions themselves. For a relevant point of comparison, the course also includes an introduction to Ogham - the non-Latin script of the Irish, which like runes was primarily used for inscriptions in the vernacular.
Learning outcome
The main goal is to learn to read and interpret runic inscriptions. The course will supplement, and be of particular interest to, those students taking other courses in cultural, historical, or language studies. This course provides a foundation for continuing with runology, but students who wish to continue must also have NFI1101 – Norrøn grammatikk og eldre språkhistorie or equivalent.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Prerequisites
Recommended previous knowledge
While only the University General Entrance Requirements need be met in order to be considered for admission to this course, a little knowledge of Old Norse would be to the student's advantage. Students who wish to continue with additional courses in runology should be aware that knowledge of Old Norse is required for these, and for these students we recommend that you take NFI1101 – Norrøn grammatikk og eldre språkhistorie parallel to this course. Syllabus literature will be in Scandanavian languages and English.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with MAS1100 – Runology - General Introduction (discontinued)
- 10 credits overlap with NFI4100 – Runology - General introduction
Teaching
The teaching is given in seminars with 14 double lectures 28 hours in total. Teaching will be a mixture of lectures, seminars, trips to museums and collections, and working in groups and seminars.
One qualifying assignment has to be approved before the student may sit for the final examination. If the assignments are not approved, the student has the opportunity to hand in a revised version for a second try.
Approved obligatory assignments are valid the next two times the course is given.
Examination
The final examination will be a 4-hour written examination.
- Former examination assignments
- The grading guidelines can be read at the Study Advisors office
- Submitting written assignments at ILN
Use of sources and citation
You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating/attempted cheating.
Examination support material
Modern language dictionary
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.