Graded Readings and Exercises in Old Icelandic [4th printing, Reprint 2019 ed.] 9780520316812

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GRADED READINGS AND EXERCISES IN

OLD ICELANDIC

By KENNETH G. CHAPMAN

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS BERKELEY, LOS ANGELES, LONDON

University of California Press Berkeley and Los Angeles, California University of California Press, Ltd. London, England FOURTH PRINTING, 1973 © 1964 by the Regents of the University of California ISBN: 0-520-00221-0 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 64-20903 Manufactured in the United States of America

PREFACE This set of graded reading passages and exercises in Old Icelandic is designed to give the beginning student a rapid, but thorough, introduction to the most important formal features of the language.

Eventually it will comprise the first section of a new complete course in

Icelandic which will include extensive texts from all periods of Icelandic literature (including the modern period), a complete review grammar, and vocabulary. These lessons were first developed in 1959, and have been used in c l a s s e s at a number of American universities since then in both the original form and a revision of it made in 1961. The criticism and suggestions for improvement received from those who have used the lessons (both instructors and students) have been of immeasurable help in putting them in their present form. Sincerest thanks are extended to all who have participated, and further criticism is invited and will be appreciated. Most instructors who have used these lessons in introductory courses in Old Icelandic have found it advisable to spend the first four or five weeks of the course working with them. They have then either proceeded directly to the reading of Icelandic saga texts in the various editions, both monolingual and bilingual, now available, or continued with readings in E. V. Gordon, An Introduction to Old Norse (2d ed.; London: Oxford University P r e s s , 1957). Both approaches appear to be effective. The question of pronunciation has been side-stepped in the present form of the lessons. Because of a reluctance to make a prescriptive choice between the modern and the reconstructed pronunciations of Icelandic, and the impossibility of including an adequate discussion of both within the practical limitations of the present edition, it was thought best to remain silent on the subject. This was done on the assumption that the majority of users of the lessons will be participating in c l a s s work with an instructor who can present to them whichever pronunciation he prefers. An exposition of the standard reconstructed Old Icelandic pronunciation will be found in Gordon (pp. 266-270); the modern pronunciation of Icelandic is described in Stefdn Einarsson, Icelandic 31), and P. J . T. Glendening,

(Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins P r e s s , 1949; pp. 1-

Teach Yourself

Icelandic

(London: The English Universities

P r e s s , 1961; pp. xi-xvii). The texts used were taken from the edition of Hid islenzka

fomntafelag

(fslenzk

fornrit,

II-XII, XXVI-XXVIII, Reykjavik, 1933-1954) in the case of the selections from the sagas and Heimskringla, and from the fslendingasagna&tg&fan

(ed. Gu