Northern Myths and Legends
Linguistic terms
Proto-Indo-Europeans
Indo-European
Proto-Germanic
Great Consonant Shift
Grimm’s Law
Germanic Sound Shift
Old High German
Middle / New High German
Anglo-Saxon
Middle English
Old Norse / Icelandic
Literary terms
Myth
Legend and History
Fairy Tale and Folklore
Alliteration
Norse Verse Forms
Wisdom Poetry
Flyting
Kennings
Futhark
Fornaldur sagas
Other Cultures
Finns (from homework)
Lönrott, Kalevala (1835)
Väinämöinen
Lemminkäinen
Ilmarinen
Aino
Sampo
Germanic Legacy (homework)
Runes & runestones (homework)
Germanic History
Arminius / Hermann
Age of Migrations or
Völkerwanderung
Attila and Ildico
Germanic Tribes:
Cimbri and Teutoni
Visigoths and Ostrogoths,
Vandals, Burgundians
Franks, Allemani, Lombards,
Study Sheet I: terms, texts, topics & themes
Suebi
Angles, Saxons, Jutes
Aryan Christians
Merseburg Charms
Lay of Hildebrand
Norse Cosmology
Yggdrasil
The nine worlds
Asgard and Vanaheim
Midgard / Middle Earth
Niflheim / Mist-hell
Valhalla
Jotunheim
Vigrid, Bifrost
Ginunngagap
Ymir, the first frost giant
creation of the world
cosmogonic myth
aetiological myth
Cow Audhumla
Ask and Embla
Mjollnir, Draupnir,
Skidbladnir, Gungnir
Tacitus, Germania
Tuisto, Mannus, Nerthus
Roman equivalents:
Mars – Tyr
Mercury – Wodan
Hercules – Donar
Æsir and Vanir
Buri, Bor and Bestla
Odin, Vili and Ve
Tiu / Tyr
Wodan / Odin
Donar / Thor
Freyr
Baldr and Loki
Njord, Bragi, Ægir
Heimdall, Hod, Hœnir
Goddesses
Gullveig
Frigg
Freyja
Sif, Idunn, Sigyn
Skadi, Gefion
Gerd, Nanna, Ran
the Norns
Valkyries
Others Characters
Frost-Giants:
Angrboda
Hymir, Hrugnir,
Thrym, Thiassi
Svadilfœri
Surt
Trolls, Dwarfs
Light Elves
Dark Elves
Fenrir / Fenris Wolf
Jormugand /Midgard Serpent
Hel
Sleipnir
Hugin and Munin
Geri and Freki
Billing’s daughter
Terms Norse Myth
Ragnarök
Lif and Lifthrasir
Einherjar
Fimbulvetr
Slave, Carl, and Earl
Euhemerism
Seeress / Volva
Holmganga
Skirnir
The Elder Edda Poems
Saxo Grammaticus
Beowulf
Codex Regius
Voluspa
Havamal
Grimnismal
Vafthrudnismal
For Skirnis
Hymiskvida
Thrymskvida
Alvismal
Song of Hyndla
Lay of Harbard
Lokasenna
Rigsthula
Snorri, Prose Edda
Skaldskaparmal
Gylfaginning
Kvasir
Fialar and Galar
Suttung
Bolverk
Gunnlod
Hrungnir, Geirrod
Hiadning’s Battle
Hrolfs saga kraka
Beowulf
Ibn Fadlan, Risala
The 13th Warrior
King Helgi
King Hrolf Kraki
Queen Olof
Yrsa
King Adils
Skuld
Queen Hvit
Bodvar Bjarki
Hjalti the Magnanimous
Svipdag
Hrani
Berserkrs
Vinland sagas
Helge Ingstad
Anne Stine
L’Anse aux Meadows
Eiriks saga rauða
Grœnlindinga saga
Eirik the Red
Lief the Lucky
Freydis Eiriksdottir
Gudrid the Far-Travelled
Thorfinn Karlsefni
Snorri
Helluland, Markland, Vinland
Skraelings
Themes and Topics
Kingship and authority
Loyalty and obedience
Fate, Luck and Destiny
Foreshadowing, Dreams, Omens
Valkyries and shield-maidens
Vengeance and/or Compensation
Wergild
Norse Virtues and Priorities
Hospitality and generosity
Honor and Prestige
Public reputation and feud
Courage and Fearlessness
Lesser and Full Outlawry
Family and Clan
Jealousy and Envy
Poetry and Poets (Skalds)
Guilt, Conceptions of Evil
Gold / wealth
Honor and Glory, Reputation
Duels, Battles and Warfare
Wisdom, wisdom contests
Magic (Seiðr), & Prophesy
Incest and Social Taboos
Memory and poetry
Christian missionaries
Heroic vs. Christian Ethos
Social order in oral societies
Society and history
Voyages of Discovery
Settlement and Colonialization
Transition from oral to literary
Transition from poetry to prose
Transition from public to private
Transition of belief systems
History in Legend, and Myth
Remnants of Norse belief today
Remnants of Norse ritual today
Know Kennings for Midterm!
Know Dates for Midterm!