How to Learn Old English

For those of you who are fans of the English language, there are ways to get closer to its roots by studying Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon. With the right resources and some hard work, you can learn it well enough to read Beowulf in the original, write poetry like the Anglo-Saxon bards and impress any medievalists you happen to know.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Learn the Old English alphabet. The easiest and quickest way to do this is to look it up online. Mastering the letters shouldn't take you long, since there are only a handful of characters that aren't used in current English.

2. Purchase an Old English dictionary. You can use an online dictionary if you want, but paper-bound versions usually come with good editorial notes and more reliable definitions.

3. Purchase an Old English grammar guide for learning the structure and rules of the language. "An Old English Grammar" by Quirk and Wrenn is a good choice, but anything that lays the language out in an accessible and thorough way will do.

4. Find and read some easier literature in Old English. If you're a student at a college or university, be sure to check your library for anthologies of Old English prose and poetry. If you don't have access to a research library look for "Sweet's Anglo-Saxon Reader" in online bookstores.

5. Try reading through more difficult material as you learn more of the vocabulary. "Beowulf" is a classic, as are elegiac laments like "The Wanderer" and "The Seafarer."

6. Consider taking a college course in Old English language or literature. Having access to learning materials designed specifically for a course can really help you grasp difficult grammatical or literary ideas you might struggle with on your own.

Tips & Warnings

• Always have access to a translation of whatever Old English passage you're reading. This saves you incredible amounts of time rummaging around in a dictionary for words you've never seen before and gives you a better sense of the passage's particular style.
• Look online for translations, dictionaries and other Old English learning resources. They're not abundant, but you should be able to find something helpful without too much trouble.

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