Runology - General Introduction

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. Sufficient foundation is also given for those who wish to go on and specialize in Runology.

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. Syllabus litterature will be in Scandanavian languages and English.

University Gerneral Entrance Requirements.

Students at UiO must apply for courses in StudentWeb.

International applicants, if you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.

The examination in this course is not available for external candidates. Only students admitted to the course may sit for the examination.

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.

The final examination will be a 4-hour written examination.

• Submitting written assignments at ILN

Modern language dictionary

You can usually resit an exam, but the conditions depend on whether you had a valid reason for absence from the regular exam. Read more about resitting an exam.

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.

You may request an explanation of your grades, and you may also appeal against your grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals.

Evaluation

Feedback from our students is essential to us in our efforts to ensure and further improve the high quality of our programmes and courses. All courses are subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students on a particular course to participate in a more comprehensive, periodic evaluation of this course.

Overlapping courses

Introduction

Terje Spurkland: Norwegian Runes and Runic Inscriptions (The Boydell Press 2005). Norwegian version: I begynnelsen var fuþark. Norske runer og runeinnskrifter (Oslo 2001).

In addition to this students are to read approx. 200 pages of selected literature suggested by the teacher (given further down on this page). These selected texts are all taken from two compendiums: Runology I and Runology II.

Runic Inscriptions

The following inscriptions are to be studied in a certain detail:

Proto Norse:

- The Kylver stone, KJ 1.

- The Tjurkö bracteat 1, KJ 136.

- Øvre Stabu spear-head, KJ 31.

- Gallehus gold horn, KJ 43.

- Strøm whetstone, KJ 50.

- The Einang stone, KJ 63.

- The Kjølevik stone, KJ 75.

- The Tune stone, KJ 72.

- The Möjbro stone, KJ 99.

From Proto Norse to the Viking Age:

- The Eggja stone, KJ 101.

- The Ribe cranium, SJy 39.

Viking Age:

- The Gørlev stone 1, DR 239.

- The Snoldelev stone, DR 248.

- The Jelling stone 2, DR 42.

- The Gripsholm stone, Sö 179.

- The Ramsund rock face, Sö 101.

- The Skälby stone, U 279.

- The Alstad stone, N61 and N62.

- The Dynna stone, N68.

- The Vang stone, N84.

- The Galteland stone, N184.

- The Kuli stone, N449.

Middle Ages:

- Vinje church portal 1, N170.

- Tingvoll church plaque, N446.

- The Lom rune-stick (offer of marriage), A74.

- Bryggen in Bergen rune-stick (letter of trade), N648.

- Bryggen in B

If you have a disability or a health problem that entails significant inconvenience in an examination situation, you may be considered for special examination arrangements. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.

A student may sit this exam up to 3 times. If a student wishes to withdraw from the exam, s/he must do so in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the first day of the exam. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit the exam.