| Week
1 |
Introduction |
Readings |
| Sept.
6 |
Introduction:
The Geography and Languages of Northern Europe |
|
| Week
2 |
Shamanism
and Sources |
|
| Sept.
11 |
Kalevala |
C
Creation, Singing Match, Bear Ceremony |
| Sept.
13 |
Religion,
Sources, and Source Material |
C
Tacitus, Germania
C Adam of Bremen
F Introduction and Prologue, pp 6-8 |
| Week
3 |
Creation,
Destruction, and Regeneration |
|
| Sept.
18 |
The
Norse World, The Pantheon, |
F
Snorri, pp.6-37; 48-58 Gylfaginning
F
Snorri, pp.6-37; 65-66 Troy and the nature of the gods |
| Sept.
20 |
Creation, Destruction, and Regeneration
World
Order |
P "The Sibyl's Prophecy"
C "Wessobrunner
Gebet"
C "Muspilli"
C"Rigsthula" |
| Week
4 |
Odin |
|
| Sept.
25 |
Odin, god of war, Manners,
wisdom, and magic |
F Review Snorri, pp. 21-22
P "Sayings of the
High One"
P "Lay of Vafthrudnir"
P "Lay of Grimnir"
C Runic
Poem |
| Sept.
27 |
Poetry: Odin Stealing of the poetic mead |
F Snorri, pp. 59-164 Skaldskapamál (look briefly at "Hattatal")
F Especially pp. 62-64
Stealing of the Poetic Mead and pp. 150-164
C
Gnomic Verses |
| Week
5 |
Thor |
|
| Oct.
2 |
The
Thunder God and God of War |
F
Snorri, pp. 37-46 Utgarda Loki
F Snorri, pp. 36-47 Hymnir
P "Lay of Hymir"
F Snorri, pp. 81-86 Geirrod |
| Oct.
4 |
The
Thunder God and God of Fertility |
P "Lay
of Thrym"
P "Lay of Alvis"
F Snorri, pp. 78-81 Hrungnir |
| Week
6 |
Fertility
Gods and God Twins |
|
| Oct.
9 |
Fertility:
Frey |
C "The
Lay of Skirnir"
P "Skirnir's Journey" |
| Oct.
11 |
Fertility:
Freyja |
C "Sörlathattr"
F Review Snorri, pp. 60-61 Stealing of Idun
F Review Snorri, pp. 86-88 "Haustlong" |
| Week
7 |
Gods
of Death/Loki, God of Deception |
|
| Oct.
16 |
Thor,
Frejya, Odin, and Death
Death of Baldr, Osiris, and others |
C
Ibn Fadlan
F Review Snorri, pp. 48-51 Baldr |
| Oct.
18 |
Loki.
Cunning: against enemies and among friends |
F Snorri, pp. 35-37 Building of Asgard
F
Review Snorri, pp. 37-46 Utgarda Loki
F Review Snorri, pp.
36-47 Hymnir
F Review Snorri,
pp. 48-58 Baldr and Ragnarok
F Review Snorri,
pp. 60-61 Stealing of Idun
F Review Snorri, pp. 81-86 Geirrod
F
Review Snorri, pp. 96-97 Gifts
P "Lokasenna"
|
| Week
8 |
Exam
Week |
|
| Oct.
23 |
The
Enigmatic Gods
Gods of the Sea |
F Snorri, pp. 75-77 Heimdall
F Snorri, pp. 95 Ran
F Snorri, pp. 106-110 Frodi and the Mill
P
The Mill Song |
| Oct.
25 |
Exam |
|
| Week
9 |
Sami
Belief |
|
| Oct
30 |
Sami |
TBA |
| Nov.
1 |
Sami |
TBA |
| Week
10 |
Mythic
Smith, the Swan Maidens, and Bears
Heroes and Dragons |
|
| Nov.
6 |
Wayland
the Smith |
P "Lay
of Volund"
C The Tale of Velent the Smith |
| Nov.
8 |
Beowulf
|
S Beowulf |
| Week
11 |
Heroic
Epic |
|
| Nov.
13 |
Mythic
Patterns in Germanic Heroic Narrative |
|
| Nov.
15 |
Sigurd
the Dragonslayer |
B Saga
of the Volsungs
CTheories and Structures
|
| Week
12 |
Heroic
Epic |
|
| Nov.
20 |
Sigurd
and the oral tradition
|
Review Snorri, pp.100-106 Sigurd
P "The
Lay of Helgi" to "The lay of Hamdir" |
| Nov.
22 |
13th Warrior |
Movie vewing: 13th Warrior (stay 15 minutes late) |
| Week
13 |
Heroic
Epic |
|
| Nov.
27 |
Sigurd and the oral tradition |
P "The Lay of Helgi" to "The lay of Hamdir"
|
| Nov.
29 |
Code of Honor vs Rule of Law |
D The Niberlungenlied
Anna Russell (in Class) |
| Week
14 |
Christianity |
|
| Dec.
4 |
Sigurd and modern renditions |
E Eaters of the Dead |
| Dec.
6 |
The Conversion of Scandinavia |
C Life of Ansgar
|
| Week
15 |
|
|
| Dec.
11 |
Belief in the Middle Ages
Christiaity:
Reformation through Enlightenment |
C St. Birgitta and " Thorekarl of Asgath" and " Blue Belt "
C
Martin Luther and Witch Legends |
| Dec.
13 |
Review |
Review |
| Dec.
22 |
Take
Home Exam Give out Dec 13, due today |
5:00
PM |
