One term only.

Hasidism began in the 18th century with a spiritual, inclusivist ethos, which could be characterized as controversially &#039;post-modern&#039;,...

One term only.

Hasidism began in the 18th century with a spiritual, inclusivist ethos, which could be characterized as controversially 'post-modern', breaking hierarchical borders in Jewish society. In the increasingly secular and religiously politicized modern world of the 19th and 20th centuries, would the spiritual teachings survive? Would the inclusivism survive? This text-based module investigates the variety of Hasidic views on topics such as:

• Rationalism

• Individualism

• Defectors from Judaism

• The relationship between Jew and Gentile

• The role of women in Hasidic life

 

Term 1 only.

Advanced Modern Hebrew will enable students to develop further their reading, writing and oral fluency and skills. The following areas will be...

Term 1 only.

Advanced Modern Hebrew will enable students to develop further their reading, writing and oral fluency and skills. The following areas will be covered in the module:

• Reading comprehension including newspapers, academic and non-academic texts.

• Writing skills.

• Class discussions of a variety of topics and extra-curricular sessions.

• Listening comprehension – students will listen to audio recordings and will watch Israeli television

• programmes, films and documentaries.

This module is equivalent to Ulpan level 4. The textbooks used will be ‘Ivrit me-Alef ad Tav’ level4/5, and ‘Tachbir le-Mitkadmim’. Students will be expected to use a Hebrew/English English/Hebrew dictionary as well as verb tables. They will be encouraged to use the facilities of the UCL Language Centre.

Beowulf|Old English poetry|prose|Bede|Anglo-Saxon|King Alfred the Great|Old English language

The earliest English literature was written in Anglo-Saxon England from the late 600s to the reign of King Alfred the Great (871-99). Between faction-fighting...

The earliest English literature was written in Anglo-Saxon England from the late 600s to the reign of King Alfred the Great (871-99). Between faction-fighting at home and Viking invasions from abroad, an evolution took place in these centuries in which many warring aristocracies from Northumbria to Kent were slowly reduced to a smaller number of kingdoms with Wessex at their head. This module gives an opportunity to study the rich variety of the Old English poetry and prose of the earlier period in which tribal warfare, fierce Christianity and tangled politics are reflected in traditional and contemporary tales of mortal combat, spiritual ecstasy and the love of dangerous men and women. Poems including Beowulf, The Wanderer and The Seafarer, are read in full or in extract alongside Bede's account of Cædmon, the earliest named poet in the English language, stories involving ambush and assassination from The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and some of the earliest English prose from the reign of King Alfred. The aim of this module is to provide students with sufficient knowledge of Old English language and the background to the period to enable them to analyse these texts in terms of both their literary value and their social and cultural context.

Teaching consists of twice-weekly one-hour seminars. The module is examined by a written exam paper containing translation and commentary of texts already studied in class, and essay questions.