Celtic and English Literature MA (Hons)

University of Edinburgh

This programme offers you the opportunity to study the languages, literatures and cultures of the Celtic worlds alongside writing from a vast range of English-speaking cultures and all major periods in history. **Celtic** In Celtic, we work with the medieval literary tradition in Early Irish and Medieval Welsh (the most extensive in the whole of Europe), as well as Scottish Gaelic and Irish from the late Middle Ages to the present. We also explore the rich oral tradition recorded from the 18th century to the present day, and with poetry from the 18th century golden age of Gaelic literature. You will study 19th and 20th century responses to the rapid social, cultural, and linguistic changes in countries where the Celtic languages are spoken. You will also study the writing, song, and media production emerging from the lively and varied contemporary cultural scene in Gaelic Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.Our expertise spans theoretical and practical issues of current sociolinguistics, language policy and language revitalisation. **Scottish Gaelic** Scottish Gaelic is at the heart of our Celtic programme, and at honours level, it is also possible to study the medieval Celtic languages. At all levels, we offer courses in language, literature, history, and culture, enabling you to build your programme by developing your own interests in particular areas, periods, and disciplines of Celtic studies. **English Literature** Through the study of English Literature, the programme develops your critical, analytic, linguistic and creative skills by engaging with a broad range of texts and a variety of approaches to reading. You will acquire an understanding of the cultural contexts of writing in English from the late middle-ages to the present.By enhancing your literary and critical faculties, the programme prepares you to contribute to a society in which an understanding of texts of all kinds is crucially important.