Description and Objectives

Course Overview

This course will place the medieval Icelandic saga alongside the classic American Western, exploring points of commonality and divergence.  Both genres deal with men’s struggles on the frontier of civilization in often harsh and unforgiving natural environments.

Textbooks

Books                                         Authors

Hrafnkel’s Saga and Other Stories          Anonymous(Hermann Palsson, trans.)

Njal’s Saga                                                  Anonymous(Robert Cook, trans.)

Riders of the Purple Sage                          Zane Grey

Hondo                                                           Louis L’Amour

True Grit                                                        Charles Portis

Course Requirements

Read assigned readings.

Pass weekly reading quizzes.

Write successful in-class essays on material read and discussed in class.

Pass subject-matter tests as required.

Successful Students

Read. Study. Pass assessments.