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British Theories of Mythology and Old Norse Poetry: a Study of Methodologies in the Mid-19Th to Early 20Th Centuries

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British Theories of Mythology and Old Norse Poetry: a Study of Methodologies in the Mid-19Th to Early 20Th Centuries British Theories of Mythology and Old Norse Poetry: A study of methodologies in the mid-19th to early 20th centuries Lars Thomas Schlereth University College London Ph.D I, Lars Thomas Schlereth, confirm that the work presented in this thesis is my own. Where information has been derived from other sources, I confirm that this has been indicated in the thesis. 2 Abstract This study is an examination of the major theories concerning mythology that were popular in the United Kingdom from the mid-nineteenth century to the early twentieth century and the ways in which they can be applied to Old Norse myth. The goal is to develop a greater understanding of how specific theories can or cannot be applied to certain mythological poems that are contained with the Poetic Edda collection. The examination begins with the etymological approach of Max Müller and his applicability to Alvíssmál, Skírnismál and Lokasenna. It will be shown that Müller’s ideas are difficult to apply, with only Skírnismál being particularly receptive. The next chapter examines the development of anthropological approaches, specifically that of Edward Tylor and Andrew Lang, and the content of Vafþrúðnismál and Vǫlospá. These poems will be shown to have many indicators of the scholar’s theories, but offer little insight into any larger, societal, functions the myths contained within the poems may have served. The third chapter focuses on the role ritual was thought to play in relation to myth and continues the examination of Vafþrúðnismál and Vǫlospá from the perspective of William Robertson Smith and Sir James George Frazer. Here, special focus is placed on the riddle-contest form of Vafþrúðnismál and the narrative surrounding the god Baldr that is partially contained in Vǫlospá. Finally, the study analyzes the theories of the Cambridge Ritualists and Bertha Phillpotts; scholars who posited that myths were derived from not only rituals, but ritual dramas. These final scholars will reveal that at the beginning of the twentieth century there was good reason to believe some of the Poetic Edda poems had a previous dramatic state, but more thorough research was needed. The study concludes with a summary of scholarship that followed these academics and possible future avenues of examination. 3 Table of Contents Introduction.....................................................................................................7 Theories Prior to the 1850s ...................................................................................7 The Academic Climate of Oxford and Cambridge ...........................................10 Terminology Used ................................................................................................11 Approaches to Old Norse ....................................................................................14 Approaches to Scholars .......................................................................................16 Chapter One:................................................................................................18 Etymological Analysis................................................................................................18 Max Müller in Context ........................................................................................19 Life & Reputation...............................................................................................19 The Etymological Argument...............................................................................21 Differences between the Rigveda and Poetic Edda............................................25 The Narrative of Kephalos, Prokris & Eros ......................................................30 Alvíssmál...............................................................................................................32 Narrative Details................................................................................................32 Character Interpretation....................................................................................36 Alvíss .............................................................................................................36 Þórr................................................................................................................40 Natural Phenomena Terminology......................................................................45 General ‘Aryan’ Interpretation of Alvíssmál ....................................................47 Difficulties & Conclusions for Alvíssmál ..........................................................50 Skírnismál.............................................................................................................52 Narrative Details................................................................................................52 Character Interpretation....................................................................................53 Freyr..............................................................................................................53 Skírnir ...........................................................................................................59 Gerðr .............................................................................................................64 General ‘Aryan’ Interpretation of Skírnismál ...................................................67 Difficulties & Conclusions for Skírnismál .........................................................69 Lokasenna .............................................................................................................72 Narrative Details................................................................................................72 Character Interpretation....................................................................................73 Loki................................................................................................................73 Niǫrðr, Ægir and Heimdallr .......................................................................76 Iðunn, Freyr and Byggvir............................................................................84 Þórr................................................................................................................89 General ‘Aryan’ Interpretation of Lokasenna ...................................................91 Difficulties & Conclusions for Lokasenna .........................................................93 Conclusions on Müller’s Etymological Method ................................................96 Chapter Two:...............................................................................................99 Survivals & Totemism ...............................................................................................99 Edward B. Tylor (Oct. 1832 – Feb. 1917) ........................................................103 Tylor’s Life & Works........................................................................................103 Primitive Culture and ‘Survivals’ ....................................................................104 Interpreting Vafþrúðnismál .............................................................................108 4 Eclipses........................................................................................................110 Celestial Movement and Parentage ..........................................................112 Disembodied Cosmography ......................................................................121 Searching for Survivals .............................................................................127 Tylor’s Problems and Snorri’s Place...............................................................129 Andrew Lang (1844 – 1912) ..............................................................................132 Six Types of Survivals.......................................................................................133 Equality .......................................................................................................134 Magic ...........................................................................................................138 Metamorphosis.........................................................................................139 Necromancy .............................................................................................140 Spellcraft ..................................................................................................143 Like Affecting Like....................................................................................144 Hereditary Abilities..................................................................................145 Persistent Dead...........................................................................................147 External Qualities ......................................................................................148 Unnatural Death.........................................................................................149 Satisfied Curiosity ......................................................................................151 Examining Vǫlospá ..........................................................................................154 The Narrator ..............................................................................................156 Cosmography..............................................................................................160 Human Origins & Tree Totemism............................................................162
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