Spring 2026

Visit Celtic courses at the Harvard Course Catalog

Spring 2026 Courses Department of Celtic Languages & Literatures Joseph F. Nagy (Chair), Natasha Sumner (DGS), Paul Russell

Celtic 120. Food and Fantasy in Irish Tradition.  Lecture MW 12:00-1:15. Joseph Nagy.  Many aspects of food—growing, cooking, eating, drinking, and distributing it—have served as powerful cultural symbols in Irish oral and literary tradition from medieval to modern times.  A survey of the environmental, historical, and economic background to food and its production in Ireland of the early Middle Ages will lead to the close reading of medieval texts (in translation) such as “News about Mac Dathó’s Pig,” “The Vision of Mac Conglinne,” and “The Battle of Mag Tuired,” in each of which the “what,” “why,” and “how” of eating determine the outcome of the story.  In addition, we will examine the lively symbolism of food as perpetuated in Irish legend and folktale, and also in post-medieval Irish literature.

Celtic 222. The Manuscript Cultures of the Celtic-Speaking World. TTH 10:30-11:45. Paul Russell.  We shall explore the development of the different scripts used to write both in Latin and in the vernacular Celtic languages from the earliest surviving manuscripts through to ca 1700; the different format and layouts of the manuscript page in different contexts; and consider the broader narrative of the continuity but also the loss of manuscript culture in the face of the world of print.

Irish 133R. Intermediate Modern Irish. Dylan Cooper. MTWTH 9:00-10:15. A continuation of Irish 132, developing students' fluency in spoken and written Irish. As our knowledge of the language expands, we venture into storytelling, journal writing and writing and performing short skits. Internet, audio and video resources complement the study of grammar and select prose texts. Course Notes: This course, when taken following Irish 132, satisfies the language requirement. May not be taken Pass/Fail. Not open to auditors. 

Irish 161R. Continuing Advanced Modern Irish. MW 12:00-1:15. Natasha Sumner. This course focuses on developing students' fluency in spoken and written Irish, with attention to more advanced grammatical structures. As our knowledge of the language expands, we will delve into stories, poetry and songs in Irish and produce original short texts and performances. A variety of sources including the internet, radio and film will be incorporated into learning activities. 

Irish 201R Continuing Old Irish. MW 4:30-5:45. Joseph F. Nagy Further grammatical study, with continued reading of saga texts.

Scottish Gaelic, SCTGALIC Intermediate Scottish Gaelic. MTWTh 12:00-1:15. Natasha Sumner  Direct continuation of the fall term course Scottish Gaelic 130. Course Notes: This course, when taken following Scottish Gaelic 130, satisfies the language requirement. May not be taken Pass/Fail. Not open to auditors.

Welsh 227. Welsh Bardic Poetry. TTH 1:30 - 2:45. Paul Russell Readings from a range of Middle Welsh verse texts including poetry from the Book of Taliesin, the Book of Aneirin and the Gogynfeirdd.