God(desse)s, Wo(men), and Monsters in the Early Germanic World

Module code: EN3168

In this module you will explore the myths and legends of the Germanic tribes, particularly as represented in Old English and Old Norse sources. We will explore the traditional narratives of these cultures and the ways in which these narratives were transmitted and transformed in the Middle Ages. We will contextualise the narrative sources within the linguistic evidence for the nature of Germanic deities and supernatural beings, and their relationship with humans.

The module will centre around a number of texts, including Beowulf, the Old English metrical charms, and the Poetic Edda, which you will read in translation. We will undertake a close analysis of the mythical and legendary components of these texts, paying particular attention to the ways in which terms for deities and supernatural beings developed in the early Germanic languages. You will explore the problems and possibilities of understanding the transmission of traditional Germanic mythical materials in early medieval Christian communities and assess the ways in which an understanding of earlier forms of the English language can inform our view of pagan myth.