Things are moving

If you've read my previous post, you might be expecting an update on the progress of my papers or indeed a little description of the topics I should have chosen by now. Part of such an expectation might be fulfilled here, though perhaps not in the manner you may have expected. After consultation with two of my tutors, I have a much clearer plan as to what this year's dissertation might be on, while also keeping an eye to the future (i.e. the doctorate next year), and consequently my chosen essay topic for my module right now has been changed. Alas, Sir Orfeo, it will not be this year that I write about you, which is a shame, but really just means I have an interest in a wide variety of medieval topics. This may be a slight hindrance as a student who is expected to chose an area and stay pretty much within its bounds, but, again, with an eye to the future, it is much better to be able to teach Middle English literature as well as Old English and Old Icelandic. So Orfeo goes into the back pocket for the time being.

Instead, that first essay will be about editing medieval texts. Yay, never done that before... While I'm not trying to be too "strategic" (you know, to the point where I might later on feel as though I've cleverly trapped myself in a certain area), I think writing about editing--which, by the way, will include the transcription of some 30 lines from a manuscript--is the wiser choice in light of the guidance I have received from my tutors.

What guidance, you ask? What have I decided about my future academic plans? Well, the short version is, I plan to carry out most of the rest of my work over the next few years almost exclusively in the field of Old Icelandic romances, which have been sorely neglected by scholars in favour of the more"realistic", "historical", and "useful" family sagas. Yep, that's the plan. We'll see how long that lasts, though I think this plan does have staying power, as I am immensely interested in this group of "fantasy" sagas.

As for my first essay for my other module, the Icelandic one, I've actually decided to just write one longer essay instead of two shorter ones, so that won't be due until January. I think a longer analysis of a text would be more worth my while at this point too.

So, things are moving steadily, and rather swiftly it seems, toward a definite goal. My previous academic training up until now has, surprisingly, prepared me very well for what lies ahead. I'm still as scared as ever about actually pulling everything off, but then, I've always been a nervous and self-conscious writer. We will see where this new wind blows me. And though the wind is strong and fresh, the latent power within it seems old. How invigorating.