Dr. Sandra Ballif Straubhaar 316 BUR 232-6365 E-mail: [email protected] Office Hours: MWF 2:00-3:00 T Th 10:00-11:00 and by appointment

INTRODUCTION TO GERMANIC RELIGION AND MYTH Spring 2010 T TH 12:30-2:00 BUR 337

GRC 340E.1 38015 EUS 347.3 36105 RS 365.2 43705 SCA 327 38150

This course contains a substantial writing component and fulfills part of the Basic Education Requirement in writing.

DESCRIPTION OF COURSE (adapted from Edgar Polomé):

A survey of the sources and main features of Germanic religion and of the transition from paganism to in northern Europe and the Germanic territories of western Europe: Anglo-Saxon Great Britain, the Low Countries, , Switzerland and Austria--diachronically, from the statements of Caesar and Tacitus about Germanic religion to the last pre-Christian documents in the continental area ( charms, early runic inscriptions, etc.) and in England () as well as the Scandinavian texts of the and . Course coverage may include: cosmogonic myths, the origin of man (in Tacitus and the Eddas) and of society (in the Rigsþula), the concept of the (, etc.), the great gods and goddesses and their mythology (, , Týr, Njord, , , Heimdall, , Balder, etc.), and the organization of worship (temples, sacrifices, etc.). Attention will also be devoted to the survival of Germanic myth in epic/legendary literature (/Siegfried, Hervör, , etc.), and realistic sagas (“magic” in Egils , Eiríks saga rauða, Gísla saga, etc.), as well as to information about pagan worship in Christian writings (lives of the saints, Adam of Bremen, etc.). The background and expansion of Germanic worship and belief will also be examined (Indo-European heritage, correspondences with Celtic, Slavic and Finno-Ugric traditions, Arab sources, and the Thor-cult of in the diaspora [Normandy, Russia, etc.]).

TEXTS:

[Note: All texts below, except for the Packet, should be available at the Co-Op, but you may access them any way you like. You may find them cheaper at Half Price Books, for instance, or free at the PCL. Or you may want to find a partner to share costs with. As long as you do the readings, any option is fine.]

The Poetic , tr. Carolyne Larrington. Oxford University Press, 1996. (Henceforth referred to as Larrington) The of , tr. Jesse L. Byock. Penguin Classics, 2006. (Henceforth referred to as Snorri) The Saga of the Volsungs, tr. Jesse L. Byock. University of California Press, 1990. (Henceforth referred to as Volsungs) Dictionary of Northern Mythology, by (tr. Angela Hall). D. S. Brewer, 1993. (Henceforth referred to as Simek) Nordic Religions in the Age, by Thomas A. DuBois. University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999. (Henceforth referred to as Dubois)

COURSE PACKET available from IT Copy on MLK Blvd., a few blocks west of Guadalupe, north side, phone number 476-6662.

Some Recommended References:

Gods and Myths of Northern Europe, by H. R. Ellis Davidson. Penguin, 1990. Myths and Symbols of Pagan Europe, by H. R. Ellis Davidson. Syracuse University Press, 1988. Shows common elements shared between Germanic and Celtic traditions. Roles of the Northern Goddess, by H. R. Ellis Davisdon. Routledge, 1998. Focuses on pan-European goddess artifacts, narratives and traditions. Cautious approach. Scandinavian Mythology: An Annotated Bibliography, by . Garland, 1988. Pay attention to his annotations -- Lindow’s suggestions are quite reliable. This will save you LOTS of work sifting through sources (up to 1988, at any rate). This is in the PCL, but DO NOT CHECK IT OUT – leave it there for everyone else to use. Altgermanische Religionsgeschichte, by Jan de Vries. W. de Gruyter, 1970. Both this work and its author have a problematic history -- see Lindow’s account -- but should on no account be ignored. Les dieux des germains, by Georges Dumézil. PUF, 1959. The classic tripartite division of deities -- handy, if not universally applicable. Teutonic Mythology, by Jakob Grimm, tr. James Steven Stallybrass. Old, but encyclopedic. (Yes, this is the fairy-tale guy.) Dover, 1966. Norrøne gude- og heltesagn, by P. A. Munch, rev. Anne Holtsmark. Low on analysis, but brings together a lot of material. (Don’t bother with earlier, un-revised editions.) Universitetsforlag, 1967.

Some Dis-Recommended References (for the purpose of this course, in any case):

These fall, roughly, into three categories. 1. Re-tellings (in any genre) of early texts and narratives for modern audiences: e.g., Edgar & Ingri Parin d’Aulaire; Kevin Crossley-Holland; Padraic Colum; Rosemary Sutcliff; Paxson; Stephan Grundy; Poul Anderson; Nancy Farmer; Tom Holt; Michael Chabon. 2. Re-castings of early texts for modern religious or ritual purposes. These involve authors such as Kveldulfr Gundarsson (Stephan Grundy); Edred Thorson (Stephen Flowers); “Thorsteinn of ” (this is the “Thor-and-Odin-visit-us-in-flying-saucers” guy); Freya Aswynn; Diana Paxson. This category is harder to separate out than Type 1 because some of these authors and researchers also produce academic articles, written on a less speculative basis -- which you may feel free to use. How to tell the difference? DON’T use works from modern alternative-spirituality presses (e.g., Llewellyn, Samuel Weiser); BE CAUTIOUS about using things from the Internet (e.g., any of the hundreds of very interesting Ásatrú sites of various types, which are usually at least one or two steps removed from the original sources). DO use articles and books (which may be by the same authors*) which come out in academic journals or from academic presses. (* is an excellent example of an author who straddled this division: a respected academic folklorist who [academic folklore says] was also a practicing witch.) WHY NOT USE the abovementioned works? 1) This course, as I see it, has plenty to do if it limits itself to the examination of religious practices then, as opposed to now. (See me if you need clarification.) 2) Some current Ásatrúarfólk will tell you that “we are not racists; we are folkish.” Is there a difference? Only sometimes, as you may find out if you look closely. Please do remember that the elevation of Germanic Traditions over and above other world traditions was (and is) a significant piece of the Nazi metanarrative. 3. Anything by: • Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) on Norse / Germanic myth, which, while interesting, reflects what his era knew on the topic (we know considerably more now), and also reflects what his era thought about national / ethnic essence (Volksgeist). This last concept is a) certainly outdated; and b) has been used to (extremely) anti-social purposes in the twentieth century. (See above paragraph.) We think quite differently now. (And we might, for different reasons, look just as silly, down the road. . .) • (1828-1895) the Swedish poet, for many of the same reasons. (As is the case with Carlyle: you can admire his other writings all you want, but his writings on myth have been used for odd agendas.) You’ll find that some Internet sources really push Rydberg; if they do, don’t use ‘em. SEE ALSO Jim Knirk’s Esoteric Runic Bibliography in the Packet, too long to reproduce here. Bottom line is, we’re interested in what people before, say, 1250 used the runic alphabets for; not what people do with them now, or what some German- speakers did with them in the first half of the twentieth century, fascinating though those things may be. (That would be another course entirely.)

GRADING:

This course is a Substantial Writing Component course, and most of your grade will come from the evaluation of writing-related activities. The breakdown is like this: Quizzes on Reading (on most days when readings are due): 10 % Two six-page reaction papers or position papers, 15% each = 30 % In-class peer review activities on these papers: 10 % Three one-page film reports, 5 % each = 15 % One three- to five-page group project (groups of 3-4): 15 % One six-page research paper: 20 % All these paginations are based on normal margins, double space, Times or Times New Roman 12 point. (You may use another font if you have some compelling reason, but stick with the 12 point.)

Frequently Asked Question: What’s the difference between a) reaction/position papers and b) research papers? Answer: For a), only two sources are needed (one text, and your own thoughts), although additional sources may be cited as needed. Make an argument; or outline an evaluation and/or a personal reaction. For b), a minimum of five outside sources are needed. Footnotes, Works Cited, Bibliography and such things must be consistent with each other, although the formatting is your choice (MLA, Chicago, APA or whatever; I suggest you use the format your major field uses).

Film Reports are written exactly like a (short) newspaper movie review. Critique the film. Any film with Germanic or Germanic-derivative mythological content is legal. There are tons of them, including such gems as Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King and the multitudinous Beowulf treatments, not to mention the anime classic, Odin Photon Space Sailor Starlight.

NOTE: Don’t worry about my agreeing with your conclusions, on any type of writing assignment. Simply believe in your argument, and make it as well as you can. MECHANICS are also significant: proofread/spell-check carefully, and weed out all mistakes of typing or English usage that you can find.

Note: Obvious discrepancies in writing style and/or skill among your papers, or obvious plagiarisms from other authors (which are very easy to check for, using the Web), may activate the issues in the following paragraph. You have been warned.

Policy on Academic Dishonesty: Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students, and the integrity if the University, policies on academic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. For further information, please visit the Student Judicial Services web site at http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sjs/acint_student.php .

SEMESTER SCHEDULE: Note: Readings indicated on any given day are to be read before you come. Packet page numbers are indicated like this: (1-10).

Thursday 26 Aug.: First day of class. Introduction. Introduce Syllabus, Texts and Packet. Informal Class Survey: What are we most interested in? Germanic / Scandinavian: what’s the connection? Linguistic and cultural contexts. Language need not equal ethnicity. (Remember this, if nothing else, from this course.) What is “Myth(ology)” anyway – why do we use these terms, and should we? Interface (and confusion) with neighboring cultures: Celtic (Roman observers couldn’t always tell the difference); Finno-Ugric. Davidson’s & DuBois’ comparative work on these fronts (Celtic and Finno-Ugric respectively). Why do we often use a late- Scandinavian model as a kind of prototype for pre-Christian northern Europe (which includes a lot of people and places)? Is this practice justified?

Tues. 31 Aug.: Readings due: “Supernatural Beings,” from Packet (307-313); "Source Materials and Stories" from Packet (99); DuBois, ix-x; Simek entries on Snorra Edda, sagas, Æsir, , dísir, , dwarfs, giants, trolls. Anticipatory Reference Framework: Taxonomy of Rational Creatures. Kings – jarls – freemen – thralls. Æsir, Vanir, dísir, álfar, dvergar, jötnar, tröll. Debunking the D & D manuals. The Christian-filter dilemma. “Catechism” problem; we post-Linneans want there to be a System. Icelandic sagas as unreliable sources for pagan belief and behavior: written down 250+ years after conversion.

Thu. 2 Sept.: Readings due from Packet: Tacitus (1-10); Tacitus in ([11] one paragraph, showing the word that often gets translated nowadays as “”); Davidson’s paraphrase of Julius Caesar (from her book Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe) (13- 17); Seamus Heaney’s poem “The Tollund Man” (19-20); Wren Songs (20a-c); "Sumer is icumen in" (20d and following); dueling Wicker Man movies (21). Simek entry on human sacrifice. Show and tell: The Bog People, with pictures. Wren Songs. Film Clip: The Wicker Man (1973), starring Christopher Lee. Note: This is not a High Art film. Potentially offensive (features human sacrifice, in 1970s Scotland. . .) Please bring your senses of humor.

Tues. 7 Sept.: Readings due from Packet: Klaus Düwel on Runes (23-36); Pictures of Gallehus Horns () (53-54); Arild Hauge on Norwegian runic inscriptions (45- 52); and Rune Poems (55-56); Villemann & Magnhild (57). Glance over Jim Knirk’s anti-bibliography in Packet (37-43). Discussion: the uses of runes. “Imaginative runology” (R. I. Page’s term). Shall we do a runic divination (cf. Tacitus)? (Hey – was Tacitus talking about “runes” at all??? See original Tacitus text in Packet [11].)

Thu. 9 Sept.: Readings due from Packet: (61); Lorscher Bienensegen (65); Various English charms (63, 67-73); Brian Murdoch on charms and (59-60). (Is there a generic difference between the two? Discussion: Religion with a big R vs. religion with a little r; the propensity of human beings toward magical thinking.) FIRST FILM REPORT DUE.

Tues. 14 Sept.: Readings due: DuBois, 33-44; 140-172. Readings due from Packet: Rudolf Simek on Conversion to Christianity (75-89); Baptismal Vows (91); Harald and Poppo (93); History of Medicine spoof (92a). Viking-Age context. Pagan-Christian interface after Christianity comes north (bringing which significant technological innovation??). IDEAS for your first paper can be checked with me today.

Thu. 16 Sept.: Readings due: Snorri, both Byock's modern introduction (ix-xxx) and Snorri’s own introduction (3-8). “Bók þessi heitir Edda:” – what does this mean?? Packet: Chabon, "After Strange Gods" (97).

Tues. 21 Sept.: Reading due: Snorri, “The Deluding of ,” 7-46. Packet: Artists’s Rendering of the Nine Worlds (p. 95; it has “Yggdrasill” at the top of it). Note: This is only one of a number of possible 3-D mock-ups that would be consistent with what Snorri says.

Thu. 23 Sept.: Reading due: Snorri, “The Deluding of Gylfi,” 46-79. Fountain in .

Tues. 28 Sept.: FIRST REACTION/POSITION PAPER DUE. Readings due: Snorri, “Poetic Diction” (80-118); Snorri, Byock's Appendices (119-128).

Thu. 30 Sept.: Readings due from Packet: Andersson on the age of the Eddic poems (101); “Stories from Viking-Age Mythology” handouts (103-114). Readings due: Larrington, i-38 (including Introduction). Völuspá & Hávamál. Introduction to the & the Codex Regius MS. Comparisons of various English translations.

Tues. 5 Oct.: Readings due from Packet: Texts for Sequentia, first batch (105-110). These are Ursula Dronke’s translations, to compare with Larrington’s. Discussion: Should the poems of the Edda be sung?? Were they sung in antiquity? PEER REVIEW ACTIVITIES.

Thu. 7 Oct.: Readings due from Packet: intro (120a); Kathryn Starkey on (121-130); Thor and Alvis (131). Readings due: Larrington (Vafþrúðnismál & Grímnismál; Alvíssmál).

Tues. 12 Oct.: Reading due: Larrington (Skírnismál & ). IDEAS FOR YOUR SECOND PAPER AND YOUR FINAL RESEARCH PAPER CAN BE CHECKED WITH ME TODAY.

Thu. 14 Oct.: Readings due: Larrington ( & Þrym, & Ríg); Simek, entry on Þrymskviða. Readings from Packet: Hymiskviða (113-114f), Þrymskviða (111-112c); Bryan O’Linn (147). Folkloric analogues to older texts. SECOND FILM REPORT DUE.

Tues. 19 Oct.: Readings due: Davidson, 25-38; DuBois, 69-91. Time to back up & interpret: Cosmology, Ragnarök. Film clips: Erik the Viking.

Thu. 21 Oct.: Readings due: Simek entries on Odin, Tyr, Þórr, Vanir, Shamanism, Dumézil. DuBois, chs. 3 and 4. Pictures and Readings from Packet: Guldgubbar (115- 117; what are they??); Gunnar helming (319-323); Dumézil (133-142); Dumézilian tripartite functions (119). Æsir and Vanir and their enmity; localized deities and ancestors in mounds. The tale of Gunnar helming. SECOND REACTION/POSITION PAPER DUE.

Tues. 26 Oct.: Readings due: Simek entries on Freyja, , Ægir, Njord, Rán. DuBois, 45-68. Readings due from Packet: (145-6); Davidson’s “five attributes” of the goddess (143; contrast with Dumézil); Ármann Jakobsson, “The Extreme Emotional Life of Völundr the ” (165-193); Ballad of Polly Vaughn (195-197); Þulur and Darraðarljóð (199-202); Weaponry at Night (149). Larrington (Völundarkviða). Simek entries on , Darraðarljóð. Valkyries and swan-maidens. Additional gods; goddesses. Weaving and spinning. (Practice with a drop spindle?)

Thu. 28 Oct.: More Wayland. The . Indo-European Lame Smiths. Readings due from Packet: Wayland's Smithy (152-253); Wieland der Schmied (155- 159); (161-163). Look again at Grímnismál and Völuspá. Dumézil revisited. More Valkyries. Possible: Valkyries in Art. PEER REVIEW ACTIVITIES.

Tues. 2 Nov.: Readings due from Packet: Adam of Bremen (the Temple at Uppsala, 205- 207); Fides Spes Caritas (203-204); Domaldi, plus Carl Larsson painting (223); Kings and Fertility (225); Beorn’s Hall (209); Norwegian stave churches (211-220); Celtic interlace sample, for contrast (221). Simek entries on Temples, Adam of Bremen, Domaldi. Pre-Christian religion as portrayed in Christian saints’ lives and other Christian texts. BRAINSTORMING FOR GROUP PROJECTS.

Thu. 4 Nov.: Readings due from Packet: Ibn Fadhlan (231-242); Eddic funeral songs from Gísla saga film (227-229); Draumkvedet (243-263a); DuBois, p. 70; Simek entry on Death and Life After Death. Funerals. Discussion: Who were these people that ibn Fadhlan visited, anyway? Film clip: Thirteenth Warrior (funeral clips only). Funerals in Útlaginn film.

Tues. 9 Nov.: Readings due from Packet: Jómsvíkings (265-6); Blood-brother Oath (267); Sighvat’s Poem (315). Priestly functions and ritual. Images and sacrifices. Álfablót. Ritual feasting, Blood-brotherhood. Film clip: Gísli (blood-brothers; the “necklace of earth”).

Thu. 11 Nov.: Readings due from Packet: Egill’s Scorn-Pole (275); Childhood of Böðvarr bjarki (269-274). Readings due: Simek entry on Magic; DuBois ch. 5, 123-4; Larrington (Sigrdrífa). Cursing; Shape-shifting (voluntary and imposed). Icelandic seal story. Re-examine Loddfáfnir section of Hávamál. Word-magic / healing. (Revisit Merseburg charms.) . “Heiðr” the foresighted witch (Örvar-Odds saga, etc.). Þorbjörg lítilvölva from Eiríks saga rauða. THIRD FILM REPORT DUE.

Tues. 16 Nov.: Readings due: DuBois, ch. 6; revisit DuBois ch. 4 & 5. Readings due from Packet: Þorgrímr nef from Gísla saga (285); Kotkell from Laxdæla saga (277-283); Böðvarr and Höttr Slay a Dragon (287-289); Garmonsway on Grettir, etc. (291-306). Seiðr-- what was it? Who did it? Ghosts and fylgjur; revenants as monsters. Grettis saga. Dragons (anticipating Sigurd the Dragon-Slayer!). Film clips: Þorgrímr nef from Gísla saga; Böðvarr bjarki.

Thu. 18 Nov.: Reading due: Volsungs, up to p. 50. Find matching Eddic poems in Larrington (use Völsung- handouts in Packet for a guide). Readings due from Packet: Völsung Genealogy (317), Völsung/Nibelung handouts, Sigurd ballads (98a-k; 325-6; 345-8 [some duplication, sorry]); texts for Sequentia (second batch): Sigurðarkviða in skamma (335-343); Name Taboos (334a); Bilbo's Dragon Riddles (334b); Larrington (Fáfnismál) (329-333). Revisit stave church art in Packet. Background on the Sigurd/Siegfried legend. Listen to Sequentia. Learn to ballad-dance! GROUP PROJECTS DUE.

Tues. 23 Nov.: Readings due: Volsungs, up to p. 80. Find matching Eddic poems in Larrington. From Packet: Fritz Lang's Nibelungen films (327-8). Film clip: Fritz Lang’s Siegfried (1925). OPTIONAL: GROUP PROJECT POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS.

Thu. 25 Nov. THANKSGIVING

Tues. 30 Nov.: Reading due: Volsungs, up to p. 123. Find matching Eddic poems in Larrington. Readings from Packet: Saxo (349-350 incorporating pagination glitch); Ragnarr (351); Hervarar saga retold (353-374; if you have time). Lesser Heroes of the Tradition (i.e., not Sigurd). Clips from Amleth film (starring Christian Bale).

Thu. 2 Dec.: Last day of class. RESEARCH PAPER DUE. Film clip: The Thirteenth Warrior (1999; how to learn Old Norse by the campfire in ten easy lessons). NO FINAL. Have a great winter break!