INSTRUCTORS:
This course 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.
Weekly Schedule
This class includes pre-recorded lectures by Signum’s Germanic Philology Faculty. Students will meet once a week for a 1-hour discussion session as assigned.
Course Schedule
Week 1 (Paul Peterson & Carl Anderson)
- Survey of the Literature of the Medieval Germanic World
- The Germanic Speaking World to the 13th century
Week 2 (Nelson Goering)
- Introduction to Old English Literature and the Place of Beowulf
- Beowulf in Philology
Week 3 (Paul Peterson & Carl Edlund Anderson)
- Beowulf and Tradition
- The Anglo-Norse Scyldings and Skjöldungar
Week 4 (Carl Edlund Anderson & Paul Peterson)
- The Saga of Hrolf Kraki
- Sources for Norse Mythology
Week 5 (Carl Edlund Anderson)
- Norse Cosmology: The Beginning of the World
- Norse Cosmology: The End of the World
Week 6 (Nelson Goering & Paul Peterson)
- The Poetic Edda and Norse Poetry
- Old Norse Myths and Legends in the Poetic Edda
Week 7 (Carl Edlund Anderson & Paul Peterson)
- Old Norse Religion
- The Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson
SUMMER BREAK
Week 8 (Carl Edlund Anderson & Paul Peterson)
- Myths of the Prose Edda
- Norse Gods and Goddesses
Week 9 (Nelson Goering & Paul Peterson)
- Heroic Legends in the Eddas
- The Saga of the Volsungs
Week 10 (Paul Peterson & Larry Swain)
- The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok
- The Nibelungendlied
Week 11 (Paul Peterson & Nelson Goering)
- Comparison of the Nibelungenlied with Other Traditions
- Gothic Legends in Old Norse and Old English Literature
Week 12 (Larry Swain & Paul Peterson)
- Waltharius
- Taking Stock of the Medieval Northern Mythic and Heroic Traditions
Required Texts
Where noted, the print and e-book translations linked are preferred and encouraged, but online alternatives in the public domain are also acceptable. The Amazon links are provided for convenience only, and we encourage students to purchase texts wherever they wish. Further required and suggested readings will be provided by the course instructors in the final syllabus.
- Beowulf (Broadview, 2nd ed., 2012) trans. R.M. Liuzza
- The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki (Penguin, 1999) trans. Jesse Byock
- Prose Edda (Everyman, 1995) trans. Anthony Faulkes
- The Poetic Edda (Oxford World’s Classics, 2nd ed., 2014) trans. Carolyne Larrington
- Saga of the Volsungs with the Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok (Hackett Classics, 2017) trans. Jackson Crawford
- The Nibelungenlied (Oxford World’s Classics, 2010) trans. Cyril Edwards
- Waltharius (2005) trans. Abram Ring
Course History
This course has been offered in the following semesters.
| Semester | Preceptor(s) |
|---|---|
| Spring 2025 | Dr. Paul Peterson |
| Summer 2022 | Dr. Paul Peterson & Dr. Carl Edlund Anderson |
| Summer 2019 | Dr. Paul Peterson & Dr. Carl Edlund Anderson |
