Norwegian 102 Second Semester Norwegian 4 credits
Laura Moquin 9:55 to 10:45 MTWThF laura.moquin@wisc.edu
Peggy Hager 1:20 to 2:10 MTWThF pehager@wisc.edu
Prerequisites: 101 Norwegian or equivalent, open to undergraduates
Language of Instruction: Norwegian
This course continues to build basic skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing Norwegian. We offer a thematic, communicative approach to language teaching that strives to put language in the context of culture. Classroom time focuses on communication and listening, as well as introducing basic grammatical concepts. Homework centers on reinforcing vocabulary, reading, grammar exercises and writing. Thematic units covered in Norwegian 102 include clothing, family and relationships, appearance and personality, celebrations, hometowns and housing, work and economy. We end the semester with a student-produced group video project.
The final grade is determined as follows: 10% attendance and participation; 15% homework; 10% essays; 10% in-class quizzes, 50% exams (4 exams), 5% oral exam
Textbook: Sett i gang I (chapters 13-15) Sett i gang II (chapters 16-23)
(authors: Kari Lie Dorer and Nancy Aarsvold)
Audio and online exercises free and online
Scand 112 Second Semester Swedish, 4 credits
Mirva Johnson, MTWRF 11:00 AM-11:50 AM
Prerequisites: Scand 111 or equiv
Continuation of Scand 111 as an introduction to the Swedish language.
Scand 121/122 First and Second Semester Danish, 4 credits
Instructor TBD, MTWRF 11:00-11:50am
Prerequisites:
Scand 121: None
Scand 122: Scand 121 and/or students who have a proficient knowledge of Danish to join the class (See instructor for placement test)
Language of Instruction: Danish
The purpose of this class is to continue building on the Danish skills gained in 121. Our motto will be: The more Danish, the better! We will be talking, listening, reading and writing. We will include more grammar and grammatical exercises, and we will expand your vocabulary, working towards a higher degree of proficiency in Danish. Apart from continuing with the textbooks, we will also be reading more authentic texts that cover aspects of Danish culture and the Danes, so we can continue analyzing and comparing with that of the US. We will focus on contemporary reading and include films and audios, representing Danish popular culture. We will include new technology to enhance our authentic language and culture acquisition.
Scand 202 Second Year Norwegian, 4 credits
Peggy Hager, MTWR 2:25 PM-3:15 PM
Prerequisites: Scand 201 or equiv. Open to undergrads
Language of Instruction: Norwegian
Norwegian 202 is an intermediate fourth semester language course that requires the completion of Norwegian 201 or equivalent. The course builds on the vocabulary and topics introduced in third semester Norwegian and explores various aspects of Norwegian culture through texts, video, internet and classroom discussion. Classroom topics include Vikings, Nordic mythology, Norwegian language and dialects, and Norway as a modern welfare state. Students read and discuss Naiv. Super by contemporary Norwegian writer Erlend Loe. An important component of fourth semester Norwegian is individual oral presentations in Norwegian on a topic of interest related to Norway.
The final grade is determined as follows: 10% attendance and participations; 15% homework; 10% essays; 10% oral presentations, 40% exams, 5% oral exam, 10% final paper.
Required Text: Naiv. Super by Erlend Loe (available at amazon.com Nelsbok edition)
Other materials free and on-line
Please contact pehager@wisc.edu with any questions.
Scand 212 Second Year Swedish, 4 credits
Richelle Wilson, MTWR 1:20-2:10pm
Prerequisites: Cons inst or Scand 211
Continuation of Scand 211 Second Semester Swedish.
Scand 222 Second Year Danish, 4 credits
Nete Schmidt, MTWR 9:55 AM-10:45 AM
Prerequisites: Scand 221 and/or students who have a proficient knowledge of Danish to join the class (See instructor for placement test)
Language of Instruction: Danish
The purpose of this class is to continue building on the Danish skills gained in 121, 122, and 221. Our motto will be: The more Danish, the better! We will be talking, listening, reading and writing. We will include more grammar and grammatical exercises, and we will expand your vocabulary, working towards a higher degree of proficiency in Danish. Apart from continuing with the textbooks, we will also be reading more authentic texts that cover aspects of Danish culture and the Danes, so we can continue analyzing and comparing with that of the US. We will focus on contemporary reading and include films and audios, representing Danish popular culture. We will include new technology to enhance our authentic language and culture acquisition.
Please contact aschmidt2@wisc.edu with any questions.
Scand 374/ LitTrans 274 Masterpieces of Scandinavian Literature: the Twentieth Century, 3 credits*
Susan Brantly, TR 12:05 PM-12:55 PM Lecture
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for Lit Trans 274. Students taking the class as Scand 374 must have 2 years of a Scand language. Scand 374 counts towards the Scandinavian Certificate or Major.
Can thrillers, science fiction novels, or films be literary masterpieces? Yes they can! Explore the changing fashions in literature throughout the 20th Century, while you learn important survival skills for the media age. Everybody wants something, so how do you assess what different writers want from you, and what tricks do they use to go about getting it? Through a selection of short texts, novels, and plays, we’ll be learning from some of the best: Nobel Laureates (Knut Hamsun, Pär Lagerkvist), medical doctors (P.C. Jersild), and other provocateurs (August Strindberg, Isak Dinesen, Ingmar Berman, Peter Hoeg, and the rest).
Please contact sbrantly@wisc.edu with any questions.
Scand 401 Contemporary Scandinavian Languages, 3 credits
Dean Krouk, Claus Andersen, and Scott Mellor, MWF 12:05 PM-12:55 PM
Prerequisites: 3 years of Norwegian, Danish, or Swedish or cons inst
Intensive work in spoken and written Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish, based on contemporary readings, for undergraduate and graduate students with a basic command of a Scandinavian language. Required of graduate students.
Scand St/Medieval 408
Prof. Kirsten Wolf
TR 9:30-10:45 am
Objectives: The course is a direct continuation of 407 Old Norse I. Its primary purpose is a linguistic one: to obtain a reading knowledge of Old Norse-Icelandic through the study of Old Icelandic grammar and selections of Old Norse-Icelandic texts.
Content: The course builds on the aspects of grammar studied in 407 Old Norse I. Whereas the focus in 407 Old Norse I is nominal inflections, the focus in 408 Old Norse II is verbal inflections and syntax. Moreover, students will translate a variety of Old Norse-Icelandic texts, both prose and poetry, in order to enhance their vocabulary. Grammars and texts used are Michael Barnes’ A New Introduction to Old Norse. Part I: Grammer andAnthony Faulkes’ A New Introduction to Old Norse. Part II.
Learning outcomes: By the end of the course, students will have a sufficient knowledge of grammar and a sufficient vocabulary to be able to read and understand Old Norse-Icelandic texts in normalized editions and access more challenging texts with the help of a dictionary.
Scand 411/ Intl St 310 Areas in Scandinavian Literature: Norden, 1 credit
Scott Mellor, T 4:00 PM-5:15 PM
Prerequisites: 5 semesters or equiv in a Scand language
This course is for Norden Language House. It will offer an introduction to the cultures and societies of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden by looking at the 19th century, beginning with the Romantic period and continuing with the literary period called the Modern Breakthrough or literature of indignation. These two literary periods mark the golden age of Nordic letters where Scandinavian authors where well known throughout the western literary world. Literature of indignation brought up social issues, many of which are still relevant to us today. The course is open to all ILC residents. We will meet on non-dinner weeks and the course will be conducted in English. The course is open to all ILC residents. We will meet on non-dinner weeks and the course will be conducted in English. We will meet on dinner weeks with the Norden students and conduct those lectures in the Nordic languages. Please contact instructor if you are interested in Nordic language part of the course.
Scand 420/ LitTrans 343 The Woman in Scandinavian Literature, 4 credits
Nete Schmidt, MWF 11:00 AM-11:50 AM
Prerequisites: 2 years of a Scand language or equiv
Language of Instruction: English
In this class, we will read and discuss a selection of writings by and about Scandinavian Women from the 19thcentury and till now. We will include short stories, poetry, essays, and some literary criticism. Active participation is encouraged as the class consists of a mixture of lectures and discussions. Through presentations, students will enhance their understanding of and engagement in the materials. The goal is to create a comprehension of the works based on culture, history, and literature. A further important element is drawing comparisons between the Scandinavian Countries and the USA regarding events, cultural backgrounds, and literary expressions of and about women.
Please contact aschmidt2@wisc.edu with any questions.
Scand St. 428 / Lit Trans 428: Literature and Memory
Krouk, TR 1:00-2:15pm
Prerequisites and target audience: Sophomore standing. Honors optional. For undergraduate majors and non-majors, also open to graduate students
Breadth requirement: L-literature
Language of instruction: English
Description: This course investigates the relations between theories of memory, both individual and collective, and modern literary representations of remembering. We survey seminal conceptions of memory in the interdisciplinary field of memory studies, investigating topics such as nostalgia, trauma, personal and cultural identity, war and Holocaust, sites of memory, and autobiographical narrative. Through the avenues opened up by these theoretical frameworks, we consider the narrative forms as well as the ethical and political dimensions of remembering in major novels by Marcel Proust, W. G. Sebald, Merethe Lindstrøm, and Karl Ove Knausgård.
Assignments include papers, collaborative bibiography, and presentations.
Scand St. 432 / History 432: History of Scandinavia since 1815
Krouk,
001 Lecture TuTH4:00-5:15pm
301 Disc W 9:55-10:45
Prerequisites: None
Language of instruction: English
Description: This course offers a survey of the modern history of Scandinavia and the Nordic region, from 1815 to the present. Our main focus will be on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Familiarity with modern European history since 1815 will be helpful. Most important, however, is a willingness to engage seriously by reading, listening, researching, and discussing this fascinating region.
Important issues and concepts will include: political and cultural nationalism; modernization and modernity; war experiences and neutrality; social democracy and the Nordic model; gender equality; the European Union; multiculturalism, immigration, and globalization.
Assignments include written exams and book reviews.
Scand St 434/LitTrans 334 The Art of Isak Dinesen/Karen Blixen 3-4 credits
Brantly, TR, 2:30-3:45
Prerequisites: For Scan 434, some knowledge of a modern Scandinavian language is required. All Scan 434 students will take the class for 4 credits. Otherwise students will need junior standing or the consent of the instructor. Just ask. Lit Trans 334 may chose to take the course for 3 or 4 credits.
Language of instruction: English.
Isak Dinesen, alias the Baroness Karen Blixen, is a Danish writer, who lived in British East Africa, and made her international publishing debut in America. Her life inspired the Oscar-winning film Out of Africa and her tale “Babette’s Feast” inspired yet another Oscar-winning film by the same name…the Pope’s favorite film, in fact. This course studies the intricate and fantastic tales that Dinesen wrote, and also looks at her autobiographical novel, Out of Africa, and considers it as both fiction and a piece of colonial literature.
The final grade is determined as follows:
3 credits: Participation (20%), Midterm (30%), Final Exam (50%)
4 credits: Participation (20%), Midterm (20%), Final (35%), Paper (25%)
Texts to purchase:
Seven Gothic Tales
Out of Africa
Winter’s Tales
Anecdotes of Destiny and Ehrengard
Last Tales
Scand 436/ LitTrans 324 Topics in Scandinavian Literature: Criminal Utopias, 4 credits
Nete Schmidt, TR 11:00 AM-12:15 PM
Prerequisites: None. Open to interested students
Language of Instruction: English
Science fiction portrays imaginary realms which illustrate the highest potential for the achievements of the human race, both spiritually in conjunction with ideologies, philosophies, and religions, and technologically in conjunction with technical advances, technological inventions, and practical innovations in our contemporary lives. At the same time, science fiction depicts the lowest common denominator of the potential of humanity in its inherent criticism of existing social human interactions, conditions, and societies. Similarly, crime fiction shows the dualistic nature of the human race in its portrayal of the basest acts of humanity and the most exemplary human reaction to such acts. Hence, both genres are related in their exploration of the nature of good and evil and, consequently, eminently capable of spurring existential discussions about the role of humankind and our power to influence our surroundings. They both question the essence of the status quo and yield different answers to such essential questions as the nature of personal identities, values, beliefs, and worldviews. Obviously, since they both allow a critique of contemporary society, it is, then, very relevant to ask why one genre is more popular than the other in Scandinavia. This course will attempt to answer that question. It will, furthermore, include an examination of the origins of science fiction and the crime literature genre in a broader historical perspective, drawing on British and American texts and theories. Through the reading of a variety of novels and short stories, as well as viewing of films, the course aims to heighten the ability of the students to engage in analytical and critical thinking, voice coherent argumentation, explore, examine, reason, and write academic essays. The investigation of human issues is relevant to all literature courses; science fiction and crime literature is particularly relevant in its enquiry into human nature for better and worse, and this course will focus on the particular Scandinavian response to the above-mentioned questions as portrayed in two popular culture genres.
Please email aschmidt2@wisc.edu with any questions.
Scand 475/ LitTrans 275-002/-003 The Writings of Hans Christian Andersen for Scandinavian Majors, 4 credits
Claus Andersen, MWF 9:55-10:45 AM
Prerequisites: 2 years of a Scand language or cons inst. Open to Freshmen
Scand 475 is a 4 credit non-Comm B section, designed for Scand St majors and certificate students or students with prior experience in a Nordic language.
Hans Christian Andersen lived in Denmark from 1805 – 1875. He is one of the best-known writers in the world, and his tales have been translated into numerous languages.
His writings span many genres and include much more than the “fairy” tales which made him famous. In this class, however, we will focus on the tales. They can be read by young and old alike, but it is quite certain that as an adult you will have a much stronger appreciation of the complexities and important messages in his tales. They are not mere “children’s tales” but contain, wit, humor, sharp observations, social criticism, and existential thoughts, among many others. They are composed in a way that guarantees them well-deserved immortality.
We will read a variety of tales, discuss them, place them in a historical context, and also try to build a picture in our mind of Andersen, the writer. Maybe you will even be inspired to visit Denmark and his native city of Odense.
Scand St 511
Prof Kirsten Wolf
TR 11:00 am-12:15 pm
Objectives: This is a history of writing in Iceland ca. 1150-ca. 1700 on the basis of manuscripts as principal sources for Old Norse-Icelandic.
Content: The course builds on 407 Old Norse I and 408 Old Norse II and must be regarded as a continuation of the two courses. It provides a survey of the development of the Icelandic language from the 12th century until a couple of centuries after the Reformation and introduces students to the field of codicology. The history of writing and writing materials are treated in detail. The development of writing in Iceland and Norway from the introduction of Christianity (1000) until around 1700 will be examined on the basis of exercices in transcribing medieval manuscripts. Students will be trained in dating manuscripts on the basis of paleographic and orthographic features and introduced to the methods and principles of editing a medieval text.
Learning outcomes: By the end of the course, students will be able to transcribe an Old Norse-Icelandic manuscript and present both a diplomatic and normalized edition. They will be able to identify a variety of scripts (Carolingian, Carolingian-Insular, Gothic Formal, Gothic Formal Half-Cursive, etc.). They will also know how to date a text on the basis of paleographic and orthographic features.