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Home , Legend, Storytelling, The Two Brothers

Final Syllabus

From to Harry Potter A: , and Fairytale in European DIS, Fall 2017 European Humanities 3 Credit Course

Class Meetings: Mondays and Thursdays 10:05-11:25 AM, Nørregade 7 B-11.

An introduction to the of European storytelling, encompassing , fairytales and medieval ; and how these traditional stories live on in , movies, role playing and other modern uses of storytelling. As well as introducing the stories in their historical context, the course will explore various theoretical approaches to them.

Instructor: Bettina Sejbjerg Sommer Telephone: 6169 6973 E-mail: [email protected]

Bettina Sejbjerg Sommer is mag. art. in the of , University of Copenhagen 2006. She is a specialist in and Nordic Religion and has published articles on Nordic Religion in periodicals. She teaches Nordic Mythology at the University of Copenhagen and at DIS. With DIS since 2006.

Office Hours: By appointment. Please call between 10 AM and 10 PM or use e-mail.

DIS Contact Sanne Rasmussen, Program Coordinator, European Humanities Department, [email protected]

Class Format Lectures, questions and answers, and class discussion. Field Studies. Examinations, quizzes, and research .

Course learning objectives At the end of the course, students should be able to: - Demonstrate a familiarity with all the major myth- and story cycles of European tradition - Demonstrate a familiarity with a variety of major theoretical schools - Demonstrate an understanding of the historical context of the various myth- and story cycles - Apply the theories to traditional texts of the type introduced in the course - Recognize the influence of traditional texts in other, more modern forms of - Apply certain of the theories to these other forms of literature as well - Compose a research which will demonstrate ability to independently identify and analyze a problem-field in traditional literature, using an appropriate theoretical approach

European Storytelling: From Homer to Harry Potter A | DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia | Major Disciplines: Literature

1 Final Syllabus

Course Content This course, taught at the upper-division level, is an introduction to European , as expressed in European myth-cycles, legends and fairytales, from the earliest known sources up to and including modern uses of this tradition. After a brief introduction to the field, we will start with discussing fairy tales and folk tales. The reason for beginning with the fairy tales is that this allows us to introduce some of the main methods and theories for working with oral , which will be relevant throughout the course. This encompasses the folkloristic methods and theories of Axel Olrik, and Vladimir Propp. We will continue with introductions to the main mythologies of Europe: Greek, Nordic and Celtic. Parallel with the presentation of these mythological , some of the major theoretical approaches will be introduced. These include the psychology of C.G. Jung, the Pattern theory of Joseph Campbell, Otto Rank and Lord Raglan, and the structuralism of Claude Levi-Strauss. The purpose for this is to present these theories early on in the course, so that we may be able to apply them to the material presented in the rest of the course. Therefore the beginning of the course will be weighted towards introducing theories, but already from lesson 7 onwards there will be an increased emphasis on introducing the story material itself, as well as its historical context. We will continue with the great heroic legend cycles of the medieval age: King Arthur, the Nibelungenlied and the Volsung-cycle. Finally, the course will move on to modern uses of traditional storytelling. First we will examine how traditional stories live on in modern in the form of , movies, role-playing and computer games. Then we will discuss the use of the concept of storytelling in the business world and in organizations, as well as storytelling as a personal life-strategy.

Reading Assignments The reading for each class meeting is indicated in the attached syllabus. Students are expected to have done the reading before each class and to be active participants in class discussion. Please always bring the assigned readings to class as well as this syllabus.

Written Assignment • The Research Paper (8-9 pages) is due Thursday Oct 26th at the beginning of class.

The research paper is on a topic selected by the student together with the instructor. The purpose of this paper is to allow the student to work in-depth on a specific topic of special interest.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ THE DOCUMENT ON CANVAS: Advice on the research paper.

European Storytelling: From Homer to Harry Potter A | DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia | Major Disciplines: Literature

2 Final Syllabus

To help you in the process of the research paper, you will be asked to sign up for a compulsory consultation session of 15 minutes. There will be different time slots within which you can select your 15 minute session. The time slots are as follows:

Monday, Oct. 16; 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm Tuesday, Oct. 17; 11.30 – 1.30 pm Thursday, Oct. 19; 1.00 pm – 3.00 pm Friday, Oct. 20; 11.30 am – 1.30 pm Monday, Oct. 23; 1.00 – 3.00 pm

Tests • 1 10-minute short answer test (key names, identifications, definitions). For date, see syllabus. • 1 20-minute test (definitions and a short essay). For date, see syllabus. • Final two-hour exam (identification and significance, two essays covering the content of the entire course).

Grading elements Class attendance and participation: 15% One 10 minute short answer test: 10% One 20 minute test: 15% One Research Paper, 8-9 pages: 35% Final exam: 25 %

PLEASE NOTE: All written assignments, quizzes and exams MUST be completed to pass course.

Field Trips • Wednesday, September 27th: Screening of relevant movie. Meeting time 1.00 PM in class room at DIS.

• Wednesday, November 8th : Trip to Glyptoteket. We meet at 11.00 AM at Glyptoteket.

Please note that participation in all field trips is mandatory. Exams and quizzes will contain questions which have only been addressed on field trips.

General Information • Assignments must be turned in on time, which is at the beginning of class on the day due. Late papers will be penalized by a third of a grade per day, e.g. an A- paper three days late will count as a B- paper. • The Research Paper can be submitted electronically in Canvas. Information regarding this will follow. • Papers must be written in accordance with the conventions listed in the MLA Handbook (available from DIS reference-library) and the DIS document Writing Papers at DIS: Some general recommendations. Bibliographies and endnotes are mandatory.

European Storytelling: From Homer to Harry Potter A | DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia | Major Disciplines: Literature

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Disabilities Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should immediately contact Office of Academic Support ([email protected]) to coordinate this. In order to receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations.

Attendance You are expected to attend all DIS classes when scheduled. If you miss multiple classes, the Director of Teaching and Learning and the Director of Student Affairs will be notified and they will follow up with you to make sure that all is well. Absences will jeopardize your grade and your standing at DIS. Allowances will be made in cases of illness, but in the case of multiple absences you will need to provide a doctor’s note.

Academic Honesty Concerning plagiarism and violating the rules of an assignment: DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others. Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The students’ home universities will be notified. DIS reserves the right to request that written student assignments be turned in electronically for submission to plagiarism detection software. See the Academic Handbook for more information or ask your instructor if you have questions.

Laptops In the interest of concentration and participation, the use of laptops will not be permitted in this class. Note-taking will have to be on paper. I expect your understanding and cooperation in this. Cell phones and other electronic devices should be turned off and stored away. If for some reason you feel that you require a laptop for note-taking, please talk to me, and an arrangement can possibly be made, provided that you sit in the front row.

Schedule is subject to change if necessary with as much notice as possible.

European Storytelling: From Homer to Harry Potter A | DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia | Major Disciplines: Literature

4 Final Syllabus

Readings In addition to the readings listed, all students are expected to familiarize themselves with the Harry Potter story so that you can participate in a discussion of the story by the end of the semester. You may do this by either reading the books or watching the movies.

J.R.R. Tolkien: The Hobbit. Please read the Hobbit during the semester so that you have read it by the time it figures in the class schedule.

Text Collection (binder) Notice: not all binder texts are compulsory reading.

1: Thury, Eva & Margaret Devinney: What is myth? In: Thury, Eva & Margaret Devinney: Introduction to Mythology. Oxford: OUP, 2009. P. 3-20.

2: Zipes, (ed.): The complete fairy tales of the brothers . Bantam Books, 1987. P. xviii-xxvi; 104-107, 250-268.

3: Olrik, Axel: laws of folk .In: Dundes, Alan (ed.): The Study of Folklore. Englewood Cliffs: Prectice-Hall, 1965. P. 129-141.

4: Dundes, Alan: The -Index and the Tale Type Index: A Critique. In: Brown, Mary Ellen (ed.): Journal of Folklore Research, Vol. 34, No. 3 September-December 1997. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Folklore Institute, 1997. P. 195-202.

5: Lacoss, Jann: Propp applied to Harry Potter. In: Lana Whited (ed.): The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter. University of Missouri Press, 2004.

6: The Morphology of the Folktale – Vladimir Propp. In: Thury, Eva & Margaret Devinney: Introduction to Mythology. Oxford: OUP, 2009.

7: Homer: The . London, Penguin, 1988. P. 142-154.

8: Ovid: Metamorphoses. Trans. by A. S. Kline. From Project Gutenberg: www.gutenberg.org

9: Thury, Eva & Margaret Devinney: Man and His Symbols. In: Thury, Eva & Margaret Devinney: Introduction to Mythology. Oxford: OUP, 2009. P. 468-484.

10: Thury, Eva & Margaret Devinney: Heroes and Tricksters. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. In: Thury, Eva & Margaret Devinney: Introduction to Mythology. Oxford: OUP, 2009.

11: Thury, Eva & Margaret Devinney: Hero Patterns of Rank and Raglan. In: Thury, Eva & Margaret Devinney: Introduction to Mythology. Oxford: OUP, 2009.

12: Excerpt from Peter Madsen et al, “Valhalla 1. Ulven er løs”. Bagsværd, 1979, pp. 3-10. Transl. Bettina Sommer.

13: Characters in the Edda, by Bettina Sommer.

European Storytelling: From Homer to Harry Potter A | DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia | Major Disciplines: Literature

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14: Snorri Sturluson: Edda. London, Everyman, 2002. P. 37-52, 59-64.

15: The Poetic Edda. Trans. Carolyne Larrington. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996. of the High One. P. 14-15, 24-27, 34-38.

16: The of the Volsungs. The Norse Epic of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer. Introduction and Translation by Jesse L. Byock. Berkeley: Univ. of California Press, 1990. P. 55-72; 78- 84.

17: The Nibelungenlied. Trans by A. T. Hatto. London, Penguin, 1966. P. 17-32, 53-54, 87- 93.

18: Burns, Marjorie: Bridges, gates and doors. In: Perilous Realms, Univ. of Toronto Press, 2005.

19: Characters in the Mabinogion, by Bettina Sommer.

20: The Mabinogion. Trans. by Sioned Davies. OUP, 2007. a: The First Branch of the Mabinogi, p. 3-21; b: Peredur, son of Efrog, p 65-73, 92-102.

21: Bricriu’s Feast. Trans. by Jeffrey Gantz. Penguin, 1981. P. 221-230, 251-255.

22: Preiddeu Annwn: "The Spoils of Annwn". Text and Translation: Sarah Higley. http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/preideu.html

23: Baile in Scáil: The Phantom's Frenzy. The Cycle of the Kings ed. and trans. By Myles Dillon. Oxford: OUP, 1946.

24: Trioedd Ynys Prydein: The Thirteen Treasures of Britain. Trans. and ed. by Rachel Bromwich. Cardiff: UWP, 1961.

25: Malory, Thomas: Le Morte D’Arthur. Ware, Hertfordshire: Wordsworth Ed. Ltd., 1996. a: Malory p. 1-9, 151-152, 166-170, 178-179, 742-746. b: Malory, p. 563-571, 664-672.

26: De Troyes, Chrétien: Perceval. The Story of the Grail. Trans. by Burton Raffel. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999. P. 101-105.

27: Introduction to the Silmarillion, by Bettina Sommer.

28: Tolkien, J.R.R.: The Silmarillion: Valaquenta. Allen & Unwin, 1977. P. 25-32.

29: Shippey, Tom: Tolkien and the appeal of the pagan: Edda and Kalevala. In: Jane Chance (ed.): Tolkien and the Invention of Myth. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky, 2004. P. 145-161.

30: Burns, Marjorie J.: Norse and Christian gods: the interactive theology of J.R.R. Tolkien. In: Jane Chance (ed.): Tolkien and the Invention of Myth. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky, 2004. P. 163-178.

European Storytelling: From Homer to Harry Potter A | DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia | Major Disciplines: Literature

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31: Grimes, M. Katherine: Harry Potter – prince, Real boy, and Archetypal hero. In: Lana Whited (ed.): The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter. University of Missouri Press, 2004. P. 89-122.

European Storytelling: From Homer to Harry Potter A | DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia | Major Disciplines: Literature

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Course schedule

1. Thursday, Aug 24 Lesson 1: Introduction. Definitions: myth, folktale, legend. The history of myth-study, various approaches to myth. Readings: Binder text 1: Thury, Eva & Margaret Devinney: What is myth?

2. Monday, Aug 28 Lesson 2: Fairy tales, folk tales. The . Folklore methodology. The brothers Grimm, their influence on the fairy tale . How the fairy tales were collected and edited. Brief introduction to folklore methodology. Readings: Binder text 2: The complete fairy tales of the brothers Grimm. P.xviii-xxvi; 104- 107, 250-268. Binder text 3: Axel Olrik: Epic laws of folk narrative. OPTIONAL: Binder text 4: Alan Dundes: The motif index and the tale type index: A critique.

3. Thursday, Aug 31 Lesson 3: Fairy tales, folk tales. We will analyze the Odyssey according to Olrik’s laws. Introduction to Vladimir Propp and his theory of the structure of the wonder tale. Readings: Binder text 5: Propp applied to Harry Potter. Binder text 6: The Morphology of the folktale – Vladimir Propp. Binder text 7: The Odyssey. Questions to consider: Can you find Olrik’s epic laws in the Odyssey?

4. Monday, Sept 4 Lesson 4: Fairy tales. Propp continued from last time. We will analyze “The two brothers” and “” according to Propp. Questions to consider: Does Harry Potter apply to Propp’s pattern? Does Propp’s system work for all wonder tales like he claimed?

5. Thursday, Sept 7 Lesson 5: Propp, modern fairy tales. Finishing off Propp. (Post)modern interpretations of the classic tales. Fairy tale movie adaptions and how they reflect our times. Questions to consider: Think of fairy tale movies you have seen. How do they update and reinterpret the fairy tales? What does this say about our time and culture? 10 minute short answer test.

Short Tour / Travel Break: Monday, Sept 11th – Saturday, Sep 16th.

6. Monday, Sept 18 Lesson 6: More fairy tale movies and introducing Greek myth. Questions to consider: What is characteristic about Greek myths?

7. Thursday, Sept 21 Lesson 7: Brief introduction to Jungian interpretation of myths and fairy tales. Readings: Binder text 9: Thury, Eva & Margaret Devinney: Man and his Symbols.

European Storytelling: From Homer to Harry Potter A | DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia | Major Disciplines: Literature

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8. Monday, Sept 25 Lesson 8: The Hero-myth as seen by Raglan, Rank and Campbell. Readings: Binder text 10: Hero Patterns of Rank and Raglan. Also: Thury, Eva & Margaret Devinney: Heroes and Tricksters. The Hero with a Thousand Faces.

Wednesday, Sept 27: Movie session. We meet at 1.00 PM in the classroom.

9. Thursday, Sept 28 Lesson 9: The Hero-myth continued. Introducing Nordic myth. A general introduction to Nordic mythology and some of the main sources.

10. Monday, Oct 2 Lesson 10: Nordic myth. Readings: Binder text 11: Valhalla. Binder text 12: Characters in the Edda. Binder text 13: Snorri Sturluson: The Edda. NOTE: read ONLY P. 37-52. Questions to consider: How is Nordic mythology similar and different from Greek mythology?

11. Thursday, Oct 5 Lesson 11: Modern interpretations of Nordic myth. 20 minute test.

Long Tour / Travel Break: Saturday, Oct 7th – Sunday, Oct 15th.

12. Monday, Oct 16 Lessons 12: Heroic legend: The Volsungcycle. Introducing the saga of the Volsungs, the Nordic version of one of the most enduring and popular European legends. No readings, but bring the binder to class, as we will go through the text together. Questions to consider: Do you know any modern works of art which are inspired by this story?

13. Thursday, Oct 19 Lesson 13: Heroic legend: The Nibelungenlied. Introducing the German version of the Volsungcycle: the Nibelungenlied. No readings, but bring the binder to class, as we will go through the text together.

14. Monday, Oct 23 Lesson 14: Heroic legend: The Volsungcycle and the Nibelungenlied. Comparing the two cultural values and messages in the two versions. No readings, but bring the binder to class, as we will go through the texts together. Questions to consider: How are the two texts different in style and content? How do the writing styles differ? What are the differences in and why? How are Brynhild/Brunhild and Gudrun/Kriemhild characterized? Which text “empowers” Brynhild/Brunhild more and gives her more “agency,” to use modern terms?

European Storytelling: From Homer to Harry Potter A | DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia | Major Disciplines: Literature

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15. Thursday, Oct 26 Lesson 15: Celtic myth: a general introduction and some characteristic features of Celtic mythology. Readings: Binder text 6: Bridges, gates and doors. Binder text 18: Characters in the Mabinogi. Binder text 19a: The First Branch of the Mabinogi: Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed. Also introducing King Arthur and how the Arthur legends blend with Celtic myths. Questions to consider: Can you find some characteristic Celtic features in the story of Pwyll? NOTE: Research paper due at the beginning of class.

Long Tour / Travel Break: Saturday, Oct 28 – Sunday, Nov 5th.

16. Monday, Nov 6 Lesson 16: King Arthur. The literary evolution of the Arthur legend. The “classic” image of Arthur. Readings: Binder text 24: Thomas Malory. NOTICE: read ONLY P. 1-9.

Wednesday, Nov 8: Trip to Glyptoteket. We meet at 11.00 AM at Glyptoteket.

17. Thursday, Nov 9 Lesson 17: Modern Arthurian interpretations in books and movies. Questions to consider: If you have seen any movies or tv-series about King Arthur, how do they update and reinterpret the legend? What do they about our time and culture? What do we expect from “an Arthur for our time?”

18. Monday, Nov 13 Lesson 18: The quest for the historical Arthur, the facts behind the legend?

19. Thursday, Nov 16 Lesson 19: The development of the Grail Legend: a fusion of Celtic and Christian. The quest for the “original Grail.” What was the Grail in the beginning? No readings, but bring the binder to class, as we will go through the following text together: Binder text 24: Thomas Malory: P. 563-571, 664-672.

20. Monday, Nov 20 Lesson 20: Myth and fairytale in fantasy literature: Tolkien. Readings: The Hobbit. Binder text 28: Tom Shippey: Tolkien and the appeal of the pagan: Edda and Kalevala. Binder text 29: Marjorie J. Burns: Norse and Christian gods: the interactive theology of J.R.R. Tolkien. Questions to consider: What are Tolkien’s main mythological inspirations? Nordic myth is usually considered the most important. Where do you see the Nordic influence, and can you see any others? Finnish, Celtic, Greek or other?

Optional Tour / Travel Break: Wednesday, Nov 22 – Sunday, Nov 26th.

21. Monday, Nov 27 Lesson 21: Myth and fairytale in Fantasy literature: Tolkien. Reading: Binder text 26: Introduction to the Silmarillion. Binder text 27: The Silmarillion: Valaquenta. Questions to consider: What influence from Christianity can you see in Tolkien’s writing?

European Storytelling: From Homer to Harry Potter A | DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia | Major Disciplines: Literature

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22. Thursday, Nov 30 Lesson 22: Myth and fairytale in fantasy literature: Harry Potter. The mythology influences on Rowling: especially classical and Christian? Readings: Binder text 30: Grimes, M. Katherine: Harry Potter – Fairy tale prince, Real boy, and Archetypal hero. Questions to consider: What are Rowling’s main mythological and fairy tale inspirations? Is Harry a Christ-figure? Does Harry fit the archetypical hero-pattern?

23. Monday, Dec 4 Lesson 23: Myth and fairytale in fantasy literature: Harry Potter continued from last time. Finishing off, talking about the exam.

European Storytelling: From Homer to Harry Potter A | DIS – Study Abroad in Scandinavia | Major Disciplines: Literature

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