Syllabus for Study of Runes

Runkunskap

Syllabus

  • 7.5 credits
  • Course code: 5SV084
  • Education cycle: First cycle
  • Main field(s) of study and in-depth level: Swedish G1N

    Explanation of codes

    The code indicates the education cycle and in-depth level of the course in relation to other courses within the same main field of study according to the requirements for general degrees:

    First cycle

    • G1N: has only upper-secondary level entry requirements
    • G1F: has less than 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
    • G1E: contains specially designed degree project for Higher Education Diploma
    • G2F: has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
    • G2E: has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements, contains degree project for Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science
    • GXX: in-depth level of the course cannot be classified

    Second cycle

    • A1N: has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
    • A1F: has second-cycle course/s as entry requirements
    • A1E: contains degree project for Master of Arts/Master of Science (60 credits)
    • A2E: contains degree project for Master of Arts/Master of Science (120 credits)
    • AXX: in-depth level of the course cannot be classified

  • Grading system: Fail (U), Pass (G), Pass with distinction (VG)
  • Established: 2007-01-18
  • Established by:
  • Revised: 2021-11-17
  • Revised by: The Department Board
  • Applies from: Autumn 2022
  • Entry requirements: General entry requirements
  • Responsible department: Department of Scandinavian Languages

Decisions and guidelines

This course is an elective.

Learning outcomes

The objective of this course is to give the students basic knowledge of runes and runic inscriptions during the whole of the period (from around 100 AD to around 1800) the runes have been used as a living means of writing.

Upon completing the course students will be able to

  • reproduce and transliterate the three futharks from the earliest time, the Viking Age and the Middle Ages
  • describe what characterises runic inscriptions from different periods
  • read, transliterate and translate the runic texts that are part of the course material as well as other, elementary Runic Swedish inscriptions, and comment on them from a linguistic, historical and content point of view
  • identify and understand the very most frequent Runic Swedish words and inflections
  • describe the regional and chronological distribution of the runic inscriptions
  • describe basic concepts and terms in the field of runic research
  • independently use runic dictionaries and runic databases

Content

The runes are studied as a system of writing and the runic inscriptions as a testimony of the conditions of the society of that time. The course will also give a basic orientation of the language used in the runic inscriptions, focusing on the understanding of the content of the inscriptions and with emphasis placed on the stone inscriptions from the Late Viking Age.

Syllabus Revisions

Reading list

Reading list

Applies from: Autumn 2022

Some titles may be available electronically through the University library.

  • Benneth, Solbritt Runmärkt : från brev till klotter : runorna under medeltiden

    Stockholm: Carlsson : Riksantikvarieämbetet : Stockholms medeltidsmuseum, 1994

    Find in the library

    Mandatory

  • Eldblad, Anita Personnamnen i Jönköpings läns runinskrifter

    Part of:

    Om runstenar i Jönköpings län

    Jönköping: Jönköpings läns museum, 2002

    S. 79-92 : ill.

    Find in the library

    Mandatory

  • Gräslund, Anne-Sofie Runestones. § 1. Late Viking Age rune stones : ornamentation and chronology

    Part of:

    Reallexikon der germanischen Altertumskunde

    2., völlig neu bearb. und stark erw. Aufl.: Berlin ;a New York: de Gruyter, 2003

    vol. 25 (2003) s. 586-591

    Find in the library

    Mandatory

  • Jansson, Sven B. F.; Lundberg, Bengt A. Foote, Peter Runes in Sweden

    [Ny, bearb. utg.]: Stockholm: Gidlund, 1987

    Fritt tillgänglig via Litteraturbanken

    Find in the library

    Mandatory

  • Jansson, Sven B. F. Runinskrifter i Sverige

    3. uppl.: Stockholm: AWE/Geber, 1984

    Find in the library

    Mandatory

  • Jesch, Judith Runic Inscriptions and Social History

    Part of:

    Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Runes and Runic Inscriptions : Grindaheim, Norway, 8-12 August 1990

    Uppsala: Institutionen för nordiska språk, 1994

    s. 149-162

    Find in the library

    Mandatory

  • Källström, Magnus Gamla och nya vägar till Sveriges runinskrifter : En kritisk översikt av källpublikationerna för svenska runtexter

    Part of:

    Historisk tidskrift

    Stockholm: Svenska historiska föreningen, 1881-

    (2005) s. 300-305

    Find in the library

    Mandatory

  • Källström, Magnus Mästare och minnesmärken : studier kring vikingatida runristare och skriftmiljöer i Norden

    Stockholm: Institutionen för nordiska språk, 2007

    Find in the library

    Mandatory

  • Lagman, Svante Till försvar för runristarnas ortografi.

    Part of:

    Projektet De vikingatida runinskrifternas kronologi : en presentation och några forskningsresultat

    Uppsala: Institutionen för nordiska språk, 1989

    (1989) s. 27-37

    Find in the library

    Mandatory

  • Pettersson, Gertrud Svenska språket under sjuhundra år : en historia om svenskan och dess utforskande

    2., [uppdaterade] uppl.: Lund: Studentlitteratur, 2005

    Find in the library

    Mandatory

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