Thank you for expressing an interest in our summer seminar on The Isle of Man: Crossroads of Medieval Cultures and Languages, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities. We are very excited about this project and very much look forward to bringing together K-12 teachers from across the United States and from diverse disciplines and subject areas to explore Medieval language, literature, and culture via texts and artifacts on the Isle of Man and at the University of Glasgow. The purpose of this five-week seminar is to provide participants with an enriched appreciation for the multicultural reality of the British Isles and Ireland (the Irish Sea cultural province) in the Middle Ages. While early British literature and culture is sometimes thought to be exclusively Anglo-Saxon, in fact, Britain was rich in cultural and linguistic diversity. In this seminar we will survey the extent and the significance of this cultural, linguistic, and physical multiplicity as we investigate the conflict and resolution which characterized the relation between Briton, Saxon, Gaelic, Norse, and Latinate culture.

During the course of the seminar, we will focus on five distinct cultures: the Irish, the Welsh, the Scots (and Picts), the Norse, and the Anglo-Saxons. Situating ourselves at an important nexus of these cultures on the Isle of Man, we will focus on the Irish Sea as a means of cultural connection rather than as cultural barrier. We will spend the first three weeks on the Isle of Man, and we will visit the seats of these various cultures to explore their diversity through the study of their language, literature, and history. We will also explore ways in which the Irish Sea connected these communities and provided a means for the interaction of ideas, commerce, and the spread of Christianity. The Isle of Man is ideal for this enterprise, not only because it was such an important and rich link for all these cultures, but also because the island is small enough that the various settlements are in relative proximity. Man, which was a popular Victorian vacation site, has ample inexpensive accommodations; it also has a wonderfully functional, extensive, and charming railway system, which incorporates steam, electric, coal, and diesel power. Our excursions over the island will be both economical and enjoyable. During this time, we will also take an extended weekend excursion to Dublin and Belfast to sample Ireland and take in the wonders of the Book of Kells in the library of Trinity College, Dublin, as well as other exhibits in the National Library of Ireland.

We will spend the final two weeks of the seminar at the University of Glasgow, where we will research individual topics and projects in the facilities of the Department of Celtic, the University Research Library, as well as museums in Glasgow and Edinburgh and the fabulous National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh. While the Isle of Man is the ideal place for us to do our field research and to witness the coming together of various Medieval cultures, Glasgow, with its excellent libraries and museums, and its unique Department of Celtic, is the ideal place for the seminar participants to be exposed to the latest research in the field and to utilize these resources for our own endeavors.

The ultimate goal of the seminar then is to explore some of the infinite variety, beauty, intellectual rigor, and diversity that were the Middle Ages. To this end, we will study a variety of texts and tap the accumulated resources of several experts. We will select the participants in the seminar based on the relevance of the seminar to their teaching duties and to their scholarly interests. We will not, however, require any special knowledge of the applicants. We are interested in applicants who teach Medieval history or Medieval literature and who are keen to learn more about the complexity and diversity of Medieval British languages and cultures.

Two directors, Dr. Clinton Atchley and Dr. Charles MacQuarrie, will lead this seminar. Dr. Atchley is an associate professor of English at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where he also directs of the Master of Liberal Arts program. He holds a B.A. and an M.A. in English from the University of Arkansas and a Ph.D. in Medieval languages and literature from the University of Washington. Dr. Atchley has maintained a life-long passion for language and is a former president of the Arkansas Philological Association. He also manages the History of the English Language discussion list with an active membership of over 500 participants and is the co-founder and current chair of the History of the English Language discussion group at the International Medieval Congress in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Dr. Atchley has published many articles on Medieval topics, and he is currently editing the Early English Texts Society edition of a Middle English vernacular sermon cycle called Jacob’s Well. Dr. Atchley has worked on manuscripts in the Bodley Library, the British Library, and the Salisbury Cathedral Library and brings to the seminar an extensive knowledge of paleography, codicology, and textual studies. He taught high school English in Arkansas for many years, but after attending an NEH seminar for school teachers similar to this one in Oxford, England, he returned to graduate school and obtained a Ph.D. in Medieval languages and literature at the University of Washington.

Dr. MacQuarrie also earned his Ph.D. in Medieval languages and literature from the University of Washington. He took his B.A. degree in Classical and Medieval literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and his M.Litt in Celtic Studies from the University of Edinburgh. Dr. MacQuarrie is the editor of the Celtic Studies newsletter and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. During 1996-7 he was Washington Fellow at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and visiting scholar in Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic at the University of Cambridge. In 2002 he was a Fulbright fellow to the American Academy of Rome. His book, The Waves of Manannan: The Biography of the Irish God of the Sea from The Voyage of Bran to Finnegans Wake, was published by Edwin Mellen Press. He has written a chapter on the Isle of Man in Medieval literature for the New History of the Isle of Man, volume 3, forthcoming from Liverpool University Press. Dr. MacQuarrie currently teaches at California State University, Bakersfield.

WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION and Irish on the Isle of Man

Douglas, Isle of Man. Introduction to the Isle of Man. The Irish Tain Bo Cualaigne "The Cattle Raid of Cooley" - fantastic, even cartoonish, full of hyperbole and weirdness and red blood. As a part of reading through the Tain, we will also discuss the representation of the Isle of Man in Medieval Irish literature as a place of magic and mystery, but also of barrenness and exile - it is both a wonderland and a wasteland. We will also try to come to grips with the reality of the populations that came together on the Isle -- sometimes integrating and sometimes remaining quite separate. We will also discuss the vexing problem of the linguistic situation during the Middle Ages. While looking at the evidence of Irish inhabitation on the Island, we will discuss the nature and extent of the Christian and Native elements in Medieval Irish literature.

WEEK 2: Welsh and Latin on the Isle of Man

One of the greatest of all Medieval works - the Mabinogi. Part of what makes it different from the Tain seems to be a greater Latin influence on the aesthetics and perhaps more Christian influence on the myth. In any case, this is a great read. During the second week, our focus will shift from Irish to Welsh and Latin influence on the Isle of Man and in Medieval British culture and literature.

WEEK 3: Norse and English

If the great epic of the Irish is the Tain, and the Mabinogi for the Welsh, the greatest work in Anglo-Saxon is Beowulf. In week three we will focus on the Norse and English influence on Medieval British language, literature, and culture. We will visit Norse and English sites on the Island and read one of the most important Norse sagas, Njal’s Saga, as well as excerpts from The Saga of the Volsungs and The Saga of Hrolf Kraki. We will discuss these texts in conjunction with the Old English poem Beowulf and the Middle English poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

WEEK 4: Research at the University of Glasgow

Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. While we will have opened discussion of Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight on the Isle of Man, we will focus week 4 on reading and discussing these texts in greater detail. Though we will have ample time for discussion, we will also be busy in the museums and at various libraries while in Glasgow. The final two weeks of the seminar will include more time for the participants to do independent research, to reflect, and to generate thoughtful discussion topics and questions of their own.

WEEK 5: Research and Presentations

While most of the final week will be taken up with independent research, writing, and presentations, we do plan, early in week 5, to take a trip to Edinburgh. We will spend the day at the National Library of Scotland, where we will be given a special tour of the Medieval manuscript collection. We will also arrange for special manuscript reader cards for all the seminar participants so that they can experience the thrill of manuscript work. There is no substitute for actual contact with a Medieval manuscript. The feel, the textures, the smell, the rarified atmosphere of the British Library, and the opportunity to witness scholars at work in the field firsthand should prove to be unforgettable. We have contacted the National Library and are planning to hold our seminar meeting on that day in meeting rooms at the Library itself.

The extended syllabus for the seminar will soon be available on-line.

The seminar will meet for two hours Monday through Thursday each week. We will expect participants to be regularly prepared for class discussion, using the required texts, web documents, and outside reading. Informal Sunday evening gatherings will offer additional opportunity for discussion. The directors will also be available for individual consultation.

There will be bi-weekly field visits to sites of archeological interest on the island. Access to some of these sites requires strenuous hiking over rugged terrain and mountainous sheep trails. Seminar participants will keep a descriptive and reflective journal of these field visits.

Each participant will be expected to undertake his or her own research project during the seminar. Participants in this seminar will be granted library privileges at the Centre for Manx Studies, at the Glasgow University Library, and at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh, with access to a wealth of resources. The seminar meetings will be held in the various locations on Man and at the University of Glasgow.

College credit for the seminar will be available through Henderson State University at reduced fees and tuition for those participants who are interested in formal recognition of their accomplishments. In-service credit may be obtained through each participant’s local district, but each participant will be responsible for seeking this credit as each district is different. Both Dr. Atchley and Dr. MacQuarrie will be happy to write letters of support detailing your activities in the seminar.

Off-campus, the Isle of Man and the city of Glasgow offer wonderful recreational and cultural opportunities in the summer. Beyond the cafes and restaurants, the promenade in Douglas, the museums and libraries, both Glasgow and Man are rich with Medieval artifacts and architecture that inform this NEH summer seminar.

Housing will be available on the Isle of Man and in Glasgow for approximately 25 pounds per night. At this time, although the situation may change, we plan to engage rooms at the Wicklow Hills, a quaint bed and breakfast in Douglas, which include both double and single rooms; some participants may be asked to share a room. Upon our return from Ireland, we will spend the last week on Man at King William’s College in Castletown. In Glasgow, participants will be housed on the campus of the University of Glasgow. If for any reason the seminar housing is unacceptable, we will do our best to assist those seeking alternative accommodation; however, it will be hard to beat these prices and the camaraderie which develops through close association.

Participants in this seminar will receive a stipend of $3,800. A check for this amount, minus a housing deposit, will be sent to participants shortly after they have been accepted for this seminar. Please be advised that in today’s economic market the stipend will probably not cover more than transportation and housing. Participants should expect expenses for the entire trip to exceed this amount and plan accordingly. How much will depend on how frugal the participants are and how much extra shopping, sightseeing, traveling, etc., they intend to do while overseas. We will post an itemized budget on our webpage soon which will detail expected expenditures.

Application materials, including the guidelines and application form, are available on-line at http://www.neh.gov/projects/si-school.html. Once you have completed the application, please submit your application materials electronically to both directors, Clinton Atchley atchlec@hsu.edu and Charles MacQuarrie cmacquarrie@csub.edu . This will be very helpful in expediting the selection process, and your cooperation will be much appreciated. If you are unable to submit your application electronically, your completed application should be postmarked no later than March 1, 2009, and should be addressed as follows:

Clinton Atchley
Box 7652
1100 Henderson Street
Henderson State University
Arkadelphia, AR 71999

Charles MacQuarrie
California State University, Bakersfield at Antelope Valley
43909 30th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93536

Perhaps the most important part of the seminar application is the four-page application essay. This essay should include any personal and academic information that is relevant; reasons for applying to the seminar; your interest, both intellectual and personal, in the topic; qualifications to do the work of the seminar and make a contribution to it; what you hope to accomplish by participation; and the relation of the study to your teaching. If you have any questions about the seminar or the application process feel free to call or email the Seminar Coordinators, Clinton Atchley (870.230.5276 or atchlec@hsu.edu ) or Charles MacQuarrie (616.952.5098 or cmacquarrie@csub.edu). Also, please check out our webpage at http://www.csub.edu/~cmacquarrie/isle_of_man/ which we will update periodically with relevant information.

Again, thank you for your interest in the upcoming NEH Summer Seminar; we look forward to learning more about your interests and background and look forward to the opportunity to engage and explore this subject with a group of educators next summer.

Yours sincerely,

Clinton Atchley
Associate Professor of English
atchlec@hsu.edu
http://www.hsu.edu/atchlec

Charles W. MacQuarrie
Assistant Professor of English
cmacquarrie@csub.edu
http://www.csub.edu/~cmacquarrie/