Theorizing Old Norse myth / edited by Stefan Brink and Lisa Collinson.

Format:

Book

Conference/Event

Contributor:

Brink, Stefan, editor.

Collinson, Lisa, editor.

Edward Potts Cheyney Memorial Fund.

Conference Name:

Myth and Theory in the Old Norse World (Conference) (2009 : University of Aberdeen)

Series:

Acta Scandinavica ; v. 7.

Acta Scandinavica ; volume 7

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mythology, Norse--Congresses.

Mythology, Norse.

Old Norse literature--History and criticism--Congresses.

Old Norse literature.

Genre:

Conference papers and proceedings.

Physical Description:

vi, 259 pages ; 25 cm.

Place of Publication:

Turnhout, Belgium : Brepols, [2017]

Summary:

This collection explores the theoretical and methodological foundations through which we understand Old Norse myths and the mythological world, and the medieval sources in which we find expressions of these. This collection explores the theoretical and methodological foundations through which we understand Old Norse myths and the mythological world, and the medieval sources in which we find expressions of these. Some contributions take a broad, comparative perspective; some address specific details of Old Norse myths and mythology; and some devote their attention to questions concerning either individual gods and deities, or more topographical and spatial matters (such as conceptions of pagan cult sites). The elements discussed provide an introductory and general overview of scholarly enquiry into myth and ritual, as well as an attempt to define myth and theory for Old Norse scholarship. The articles also offer a rehabilitation of the comparative method alongside a discussion of the concept of 'cultural memory' and of the cognitive functions that myths may have performed in early Scandinavian society. Particular subjects of interest include analyses of the enigmatic god Heimdallr, the more well-known Ódinn, the deities, the female 'ásynjur', and the 'elves' or 'álfar'. Text-based discussions are set alongside recent archaeological discoveries of cult buildings and cult sites in Scandinavia, together with a discussion of the most enigmatic site of all: Uppsala in Sweden. The key themes discussed throughout this volume are brought together in the concluding chapter, in a comprehensive summary that sheds new light on current scholarly perspectives.

Contents:

Theorizing Myth and Ritual / Robert A. Segal Segal, Robert A. 9

Myth and Theory: Where is the Point? / Karen Bek-Pedersen Bek-Pedersen, Karen 33

Old Norse Myth and Cognition / Margaret Clunies Ross Ross, Margaret Clunies 47

The Reintroduction of Comparative Studies as a Tool for Reconstructing Old Norse Religion / Jens Peter Schjødt Schjødt, Jens Peter 61

Heimdallr in Hyndluljóð: The Role and Function of the 'Enigmatic God' in an Enigmatic Poem / Sebastian Cöllen Cöllen, Sebastian 83

How High Was the High One? The Roles of Oðinn and Þórr in Pre-Christian Icelandic Society / Terry Gunnell Gunnell, Terry 105

Groups, Lists, Features; Snorri's Ásynjur / John Lindow Lindow, John 131

Cultural Memory and Old Norse Mytholog in the High Middle Ages / Pernille Hermann Hermann, Pernille 151

Uppsala - in Myth and Reality / Stefan Brink Brink, Stefan 175

On Elves / Rudolf Simek Simek, Rudolf 195

Summing Up / John McKinnell McKinnell, John 225.

Notes:

"The articles in this collection come from a conference entitled 'Myth and Theory in the Old Norse World,' which was organized by the Centre for Scandinavian Studies at the University of Aberdeen in October 2009."--page [1].

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Edward Potts Cheyney Memorial Fund.

ISBN:

9782503553030

2503553036

OCLC:

962330863

Publisher Number:

99976532961