Germanic Myths and Legends
LecturesCarl Edlund Anderson, Larry Swain, Nelson Goering, Paul Peterson
This lecture pack introduces the myths and heroic legends of the medieval Germanic world, ranging from Beowulf, the Eddas, the Nibelungenlied, the Saga of King Hrolf Kraki, the Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok, the Saga of the Volsungs, and Waltharius. It focuses on this rich variety of literature by comparing texts from across the Germanic world that cover mythological and related legendary traditions within the textual culture of pagan and Christian medieval Europe. The readings are intentionally drawn from literary giants of medieval Germanic literature (in modern English translation), and the highlight of this course is depth in the traditional philological sense, rather than breadth. The lectures and discussions are intended to contextualize the wider cultural and historical contexts of the texts, including reflections of these works across a large time, space, and tradition.
- Lecture01 Survey of the Literature of the Medieval Germanic World01:31:2901:31:29
- Lecture02 The Germanic Speaking World to the 13th century01:28:0801:28:08
- Lecture03 Introduction to Old English Literature and the Place of Beowulf43:3743:37
- Lecture04 Beowulf in Philology01:10:5001:10:50
- Lecture05 Beowulf and Tradition01:34:5601:34:56
- Lecture06 The Anglo-Norse Scyldings and Skjöldungar01:26:5901:26:59
- Lecture07 The Saga of Hrolf Kraki01:33:0401:33:04
- Lecture08 Sources for Norse Mythology01:39:4101:39:41
- Lecture09 Norse Cosmology The Beginning of the World01:38:3001:38:30
- Lecture10 Norse Cosmology The End of the World01:33:5301:33:53
- Lecture11 The Poetic Edda and Norse Poetry01:03:0801:03:08
- Lecture12 Old Norse Myths and Legends in the Poetic Edda01:26:3101:26:31
- Lecture13 Old Norse Religion01:38:2301:38:23
- Lecture14 The Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson01:33:3301:33:33
- Lecture15 Myths of the Prose Edda01:42:4001:42:40
- Lecture16 Norse Gods and Goddesses01:36:5701:36:57
- Lecture17 Heroic Legends in the Eddas01:03:4901:03:49
- Lecture18 The Saga of the Volsungs01:41:3901:41:39
- Lecture19 The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok01:08:3101:08:31
- Lecture20 The Nibelungendlied01:26:3201:26:32
- Lecture21 Comparison of the Nibelungenlied with Other Traditions01:25:0601:25:06
- Lecture22 Gothic Legends in Old Norse and Old English Literature51:2551:25
- Lecture23 Waltharius01:24:1801:24:18
- Lecture24 Taking Stock of the Medieval Northern Mythic and Heroic Traditions01:29:4001:29:40