University of Virginia Library

M. A.

This course is a more specialized form of the B. A. course on the same general
lines; a knowledge of Anglo-Saxon is essential to its profitable prosecution.
The historical study of the language is pursued in greater detail; the student's
attention is concentrated on the history and origins of English; lectures on the
Poetry and Life of the Anglo-Saxons are given; Fourteenth Century English receives
detailed attention, and selected works of the Elizabethan period will be
examined and studied critically.

The effort will constantly be made to make these courses in the English Language
run parallel on the linguistic side with the courses in English Literature, so
that the two may profitably be taken together. Three times a week.

Text-Books.—First Term: Sweet's or Bright's Anglo-Saxon Reader; Sweet's Short
English Grammar; Morris and Skeat's Specimens, II.

Second Term: Skeat's Principles, I; the Student's Chaucer; Brooke's History of
Old English Literature; Professor's Lectures.

Third Term: Beowulf; Skeat's Principles, II; Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (completed;
Moulton's Literary Study of the Bible; Brooke (completed).

Note: In 1898 the M. A. class discussed once a week in the English Seminary, second
term, written reports on points connected with Chaucer's language, vocabulary,
proverbs, learning, versification, etc. During the third term the English Bible
formed the centre of the Seminary work.

A piece of technical work, such as the construction of a vocabulary, the examination

of particular points in syntax or grammar, or the discussion of a particular
author, may be required of the M. A. graduate.