Myths, legends, and heroes
Subtitle: essays on Old Norse and Old English literature in honour of John McKinnell
By: edited by Daniel Anlezark
Series: Toronto Old Norse and Icelandic series; Toronto Old Norse and Icelandic studies
Publisher: University of Toronto Press
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Toronto; Buffalo
Language: eng
Number of pages: 272
ISBN-13: 9780802099471
Subjects: Mythology, Norse, in literature; English literature; Old Norse literature; History and criticism
Description: "In Myths, Legends, and Heroes, editor Daniel Anzelark has brought together scholars of Old Norse-Icelandic and Old English literature to explore the translation and transmission of Norse myth, the use of literature in society and authorial self-reflection, the place of myth in the expression of family relationships, and recurrent motifs in Northern literature.

The essays in Myths, Legends, and Heroes include an examination of the theme of sibling rivalry, an analysis of Christ's unusual ride into hell as found in both Old Norse and Old English, a discussion of Beowulf's swimming prowess and an analysis of the poetry in Snorri Sturluson's Edda. A tribute to Durham University professor John McKinnell's distinguished contributions to the field, this volume offers new insights in light of linguistic and archaeological evidence and a broad range of study with regard to both chronology and methodology."--pub. desc.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [243]-267) and index.
Table of contents: title: PART ONE: Transforming Paganism; title: The Norse gods in England and the Isle of Man / Judith Jesch; title: Elves and Exorcism: Runic and other lead amulets in medieval popular religion / Rudolf Simek; title: Images of Norse Cosmology / Margaret Clunies Ross; title: PART TWO: Using Poetry; title: Meeting the Other: The Cases of Kumlbúa þáttr and Draumr Þorsteins Hallsonar / John Lindow; title: Risking one's Head: Vafþrúðnismál and the Mythic Power of Poetry / Alison Finlay; title: Snorra Edda as Menippean Satire / Rory McTurk; title: PART THREE: Literary Histories; title: Kings, Bishops and Laws: the Old Norse-Icelandic Version of 1 Maccabees / David Ashurst; title: Grendel's Reign of Terror: From History to Vernacular Epic / Helen Damico; title: PART FOUR: Motifs and Themes; title: Sibling Drama: Laterality in the Heroic Poems of the Edda / Carolyne Larrington; title: Burning Walnuts: An International Motif in the Kings' Sagas / Joyce Hill; title: A Just and Riding God: Christ's Movement in The Descent into Hell / Maria Elena Ruggerini; title: All at Sea: Beowulf's Marvellous Swimming / Daniel Anlezark