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Updated in [August 18th, 2023]
Skills and Knowledge:
This course will provide students with an understanding of the sources of Old Norse mythology and the pre-Christian religion of the Vikings. Students will gain knowledge of the Poetic Edda, Snorri Sturluson's Edda, and Saxo's History of the Danes. They will also develop skills in analyzing and interpreting these sources, as well as understanding the cultural context in which they were written. Additionally, students will gain an appreciation for the importance of these sources in understanding the Viking Age and its religious beliefs.
Professional Growth:
This course provides an opportunity for professional growth by introducing students to the religion of the Vikings as it is recorded in Old Norse and Scandinavian literature from the medieval period. Through the study of the primary collection of Old Norse poetry about the pre-Christian Scandinavian gods, the Poetic Edda, as well as the main collections of stories about the Old Norse gods in prose: Snorri Sturluson's Edda and Saxo's History of the Danes, students will gain a better understanding of pre-Christian religion in northern Europe in the Viking Age. This knowledge can be applied to a variety of professional fields, such as history, archaeology, and literature.
Further Education:
Old Norse Mythology in the Sources is a suitable course for preparing further education. It provides an introduction to the religion of the Vikings as recorded in Old Norse and Scandinavian literature from the medieval period. The course surveys the primary collection of Old Norse poetry about the pre-Christian Scandinavian gods, the Poetic Edda, as well as the main collections of stories about the Old Norse gods in prose: Snorri Sturluson's Edda and Saxo's History of the Danes. Through this course, students will gain an understanding of pre-Christian religion in northern Europe in the Viking Age, which can be beneficial for further education.