Learning outcomes
Students will be familiar with the main primary sources on Old Norse mythology and religion, their background and nature as texts, and ways in which they have been understood at different times, as well as concepts and methods that are used in the study of myth.
General description
Odin, Thor, Frey, Freyja, Loki. The Fenris wolf and the Midgard serpent. Sigurd the dragon-slayer and Brynhild the valkyrie. We will read and analyze the primary sources on Norse mythology and Nordic pre-Christian religion, discussing their nature as sources, the picture they paint of a pre-Christian world-view, the difficulties surrounding their interpretation, and ways in which they have been understood, reworked and used in modern times.
Modes of instruction
Lecture, seminar discussion, independent reading, research and writing.
Topics and readings
1 Introduction. Sources. Approaches to myth 2 Snorri's Edda and Ynglinga saga 3 Poetic Edda: mythological poems 4 Poetic Edda: heroic poems 5 Völsunga saga and its analogues 6 Other sources: Saxo Grammaticus, Adam of Bremen, Arabic and Classical writers. Archaeological and comparative evidence. 7 Reception of Norse mythology
- Teacher: Kendra Willson