German 2313 Northern Myths and Legends
Course Plan Spring 2016
N.B. The reading assignments listed will be discussed on that day in class. Changes to the reading assignments will
be announced in class and in email.
22 Jan. Introduction. Early history and language of the Indo-Europeans and the Northern tribes.
25 Jan. Pre-history and early history of Northern Europe during the Roman Empire. Recommended: Tacitus:
Germania (www.unrv.com/tacitus/tacitusgermania.php).
27 Jan. The Great Migration and the Christianization of the Germanic tribes.
Reading: “Merseburg magic spells” (Handout).
29 Jan. The Culture of the Germanic tribes.
Reading: “The Lay of Hildebrand” (Handout).
1 Feb.
3 Feb.
5 Feb.
Norse history and the early medieval period. Germanic mythology and Norse myths.
Reading: Snorri, Edda Introduction and 1-21. "The Prophecy of the Seeress" (Völuspá), Elder Edda 5-14.
*Tophat Homework Assignment due: Germanic Legacy.
Norse Mythology. Norse gods, creation myths, and origin stories.
Reading: Snorri, Edda 22-48. "List of Rig" (Rígsthula): Elder Edda 241-247.
Norse Mythology. The Wisdom of Odin I.
Reading: "Sayings of the High One" (Hávamál). Elder Edda 15-39.
*Tophat Homework Assignment due: Sámi Myth and Legend.
8 Feb.
Norse Mythology. The Wisdom of Odin II.
Reading: "Vafthrudnir’s Sayings" (Vafthrúdnismál), "Grimnir’s Sayings" (Grímnismál). Elder Edda 39-59.
10 Feb. Norse Mythology. Adventures of Thor I.
Reading: "Grey-beard’s Poem" (Hárbardsljód), "Hymir’s Poem" (Hymiskvida). Elder Edda 67-82.
12 Feb. Norse Mythology. Adventures of Thor II.
Reading: "Thrym’s Poem" (Thrymskvida), "Lay of All-Wise" (Alvíssmál). Elder Edda 97-101 & 109-113.
15 Feb. Norse Mythology. Freyr, Freja, and other gods and goddesses.
Reading: "Skirnir’s Journey" (För Skírnis), "Song of Hyndla" (Hyndluliod). Elder Edda 59-67 & 253-259.
17 Feb. Norse Mythology. Ragnarok.
Reading: Snorri, Edda 48-58, "Baldr’s Dreams” (Baldrs draumar). Elder Edda 247-249.
19 Feb. Ragnarok continued. Icelandic Legendary Sagas: Beowulf and Hrolf Kraki’s Saga (Hrolfs saga kraka).
Reading: "Loki’s Quarrel" (Lokasenna), Elder Edda 82-96.
*Tophat Homework Assignment due: Runes
22 Feb. The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki and modern versions of the Beowulf Legend. Ibn Fadlan and Michael
Crighton's Eaters of the Dead (“The Thirteenth Warrior”).
Reading: Saga of King Hrolf Kraki 1-41.
Recommended: Ibn Fadlan's Risala (https://www.library.cornell.edu/colldev/mideast/montgo1.pdf)
24 Feb. The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki.
Reading: Saga of King Hrolf Kraki 41-78.
26 Feb. Snorri, Edda. "Skaldskaparmal." The Mead of Poetry. Reading: Snorri, Edda 59-164.
* Tophat Homework Assignment due: Finnish epic, Kalevala.
29 Feb. Snorri, Edda. "Skaldskaparmal." Skaldic Poetry and other Myths. Reading: Snorri, Edda 59-164.
2 Mar. Snorri, Edda. "Skaldskaparmal." Kennings and the Language of Poetry. Reading: Snorri, Edda 59-164.
4 Mar. Icelandic Family Saga. "Saga of the Greenlanders." Reading: Vinland Sagas (on Electronic Reserve).
7 Mar. Icelandic Saga. "Saga of Eirik the Red." Reading: Vinland Sagas (on Electronic Reserve)
9 Mar. Midterm Exam.
11 Mar. Norse heritage in the United States; facts, findings and forgeries. Introduction to Njal’s saga.
14-18 March
Spring Break
21. Mar. Icelandic Family Saga. Reading: Njal’s Saga 1 – 72. (Chapters 1-20).
23 Mar. Icelandic Family Saga. Reading: Njal’s Saga 73 – 207. (Chapters 21-95).
25 Mar. Icelandic Family Saga. Reading: Njal’s Saga 207 – 279. (Chapters 96-133).
*Tophat Homework Assignment due: Holiday Customs.
28 Mar. No Class.
30 Mar. Icelandic Family Saga. Reading: Njal’s Saga 279 – 351. (Chapters 133-159).
1 Apr. Icelandic Legendary sagas. Reading: Saga of the Volsungs 1–55.
4 Apr.
6 Apr.
8 Apr.
Norse Legend. Sigurd. Reading: Saga of the Volsungs 55–66. Recommended: Elder Edda 117-238.
Recommended: The Heroic Poems of the Elder Edda 117-238.
Norse Legend. Gudrun. Reading: Saga of the Volsungs 67–109. Recommended: Elder Edda 117-238.
Germanic Epic. Introduction to the Nibelungenlied. Reading: Nibelungenlied 1– 99. (Chapters 1 – 11).
*Tophat Homework Assignment due: Celtic Myth and Legend.
11 Apr. Germanic Epic. Reading: Nibelungenlied 100 – 140 (Chapters 12 – 17).
13 Apr. Germanic Epic. Reading: Nibelungenlied 141 – 198 (Chapters 18 – 25).
15 Apr. Germanic Epic. Reading: Nibelungenlied 199 – 291 (Chapters 26 – 39).
18 Apr. Germanic Epic and Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle Operas.
20 Apr. Early Modern Legends. Folk book. Renaissance and Reformation history in Germany
Reading: Doctor Faustus. 1 – 41. Recommended: "Source of Dr. Faustus" 92 – 145.
22 Apr. Early Modern Legends. Faust and Eulenspiegel. Reading: Doctor Faustus. 41 – 83.
*Tophat Homework Assignment due: Slavic Myth and Folklore.
25 Apr. Folk Tales in Germany. Fairy Tales. German Romanticism. Reading: Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm
(selections will be posted online and/or announced in class).
27 Apr. Fairy Tales. Reading: Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm
29 Apr. Fairy Tales and “Kunstmärchen.” Norwegian Fairy Tales. Children’s literature. Modern adaptations
Reading: Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm.
2 May
Modern Adaptations of Germanic Legend: William Morris and J.R.R. Tolkien.
Reading: Howard, "The Frost-Giant's Daughter" (electronic reserve).
4 May Modern Adaptations of Germanic Legend: Robert Howard.
Reading: Howard, "The Frost-Giant's Daughter" (electronic reserve).
6 May. Modern Adaptations. Reading: Butcher, "Heorot" (electronic reserve).
9 May
Modern Adaptations. Reading: Neil Gaiman, “Monarch of the Glen” (electronic reserve).
Review for Final Exam.
17 May. Final Exam according to TTU schedule (Tuesday 7:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m.) in regular classroom, FL 105.