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Scandinavian 3350

Scandinavian 3350

Norse Mythology and Medieval Culture

Kaplan | 3 credit units

GE THEME traditions, cultures, and transformations course.
What do we know about Thor and Odin and how do we know it? What do the Norse Myths tell us about the worldview and beliefs of pagan Scandinavia? What did medieval Christians think about these same stories? Students will read the most important surviving textual sources on Scandinavia's pre-Christian mythology and learn to analyze them as vehicles for meaning.

Prereq: none.
GE THEME traditions, cultures, and transformations course.
GE lit and diversity global studies course.

Required texts: Carolyn Larrington's Poetic Edda, 2nd edition; Anthony Faulkes’s translation of Snorri Sturluson’s Edda (any edition; 978-0460876162 is fine); John Lindow’s Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs (ISBN 0-195-153820).
Optional: H. Mattingly and S. A. Handford’s translation of Tacitus, The Agricola and the Germania (again, any edition; 978-0140455403 is the most recent).