Reading the Runes in Old English and Old Norse Poetry

Reading the Runes in Old English and Old Norse Poetry PDF Author: Thomas Birkett
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1317070992
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 223

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Book Description
Reading the Runes in Old English and Old Norse Poetry is the first book-length study to compare responses to runic heritage in the literature of Anglo-Saxon England and medieval Iceland. The Anglo-Saxon runic script had already become the preserve of antiquarians at the time the majority of Old English poetry was written down, and the Icelanders recording the mythology associated with the script were at some remove from the centres of runic practice in medieval Scandinavia. Both literary cultures thus inherited knowledge of the runic system and the traditions associated with it, but viewed this literate past from the vantage point of a developed manuscript culture. There has, as yet, been no comprehensive study of poetic responses to this scriptural heritage, which include episodes in such canonical texts as Beowulf, the Old English riddles and the poems of the Poetic Edda. By analysing the inflection of the script through shared literary traditions, this study enhances our understanding of the burgeoning of literary self-awareness in early medieval vernacular poetry and the construction of cultural memory, and furthers our understanding of the relationship between Anglo-Saxon and Norse textual cultures. The introduction sets out in detail the rationale for examining runes in poetry as a literary motif and surveys the relevant critical debates. The body of the volume is comprised of five linked case studies of runes in poetry, viewing these representations through the paradigm of scriptural reconstruction and the validation of contemporary literary, historical and religious sensibilities.

Reading the Runes in Old English and Old Norse Poetry

Reading the Runes in Old English and Old Norse Poetry PDF Author: Thomas Birkett
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1317070992
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 223

Get Book Here

Book Description
Reading the Runes in Old English and Old Norse Poetry is the first book-length study to compare responses to runic heritage in the literature of Anglo-Saxon England and medieval Iceland. The Anglo-Saxon runic script had already become the preserve of antiquarians at the time the majority of Old English poetry was written down, and the Icelanders recording the mythology associated with the script were at some remove from the centres of runic practice in medieval Scandinavia. Both literary cultures thus inherited knowledge of the runic system and the traditions associated with it, but viewed this literate past from the vantage point of a developed manuscript culture. There has, as yet, been no comprehensive study of poetic responses to this scriptural heritage, which include episodes in such canonical texts as Beowulf, the Old English riddles and the poems of the Poetic Edda. By analysing the inflection of the script through shared literary traditions, this study enhances our understanding of the burgeoning of literary self-awareness in early medieval vernacular poetry and the construction of cultural memory, and furthers our understanding of the relationship between Anglo-Saxon and Norse textual cultures. The introduction sets out in detail the rationale for examining runes in poetry as a literary motif and surveys the relevant critical debates. The body of the volume is comprised of five linked case studies of runes in poetry, viewing these representations through the paradigm of scriptural reconstruction and the validation of contemporary literary, historical and religious sensibilities.

Reading the Runes in Old English and Old Norse Poetry

Reading the Runes in Old English and Old Norse Poetry PDF Author: Thomas Birkett
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317070984
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 225

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Book Description
Reading the Runes in Old English and Old Norse Poetry is the first book-length study to compare responses to runic heritage in the literature of Anglo-Saxon England and medieval Iceland. The Anglo-Saxon runic script had already become the preserve of antiquarians at the time the majority of Old English poetry was written down, and the Icelanders recording the mythology associated with the script were at some remove from the centres of runic practice in medieval Scandinavia. Both literary cultures thus inherited knowledge of the runic system and the traditions associated with it, but viewed this literate past from the vantage point of a developed manuscript culture. There has, as yet, been no comprehensive study of poetic responses to this scriptural heritage, which include episodes in such canonical texts as Beowulf, the Old English riddles and the poems of the Poetic Edda. By analysing the inflection of the script through shared literary traditions, this study enhances our understanding of the burgeoning of literary self-awareness in early medieval vernacular poetry and the construction of cultural memory, and furthers our understanding of the relationship between Anglo-Saxon and Norse textual cultures. The introduction sets out in detail the rationale for examining runes in poetry as a literary motif and surveys the relevant critical debates. The body of the volume is comprised of five linked case studies of runes in poetry, viewing these representations through the paradigm of scriptural reconstruction and the validation of contemporary literary, historical and religious sensibilities.

The Old English Rune Poem

The Old English Rune Poem PDF Author: Maureen Halsall
Publisher: University of Toronto Press
ISBN: 1487592647
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 179

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Book Description
This critical edition provides unique access to a work which has challenged scholars and students alike. The book is the first to deal fully with the poem as literature and to supply the runic background necessary for an understanding of the raw materials with which the poet was working. The introduction offers a thorough discussion of the origin, development, and uses of runes before proceeding to the close examination of text, language, literary sources, style, and themes of the poem. Following the text and translation of the poem proper, detailed explanatory notes pay particular attention to the background of each individual rune and rune name, and the appendixes provide analogous material to assist in setting the poet's achievement into the runic context. Since many of the sources necessary for an accurate assessement of the Old English Rune Poem are written in foreign or dead languages, modern English translations have been provided throughout to ensure that the poem will be accessible to students as well as to professional medievalists. (McMaster Old English Studies and Texts 2)

The Waning Sword: Conversion Imagery and Celestial Myth in 'Beowulf'

The Waning Sword: Conversion Imagery and Celestial Myth in 'Beowulf' PDF Author: Edward Pettit
Publisher: Open Book Publishers
ISBN: 1783748303
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 344

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Book Description
The image of a giant sword melting stands at the structural and thematic heart of the Old English heroic poem Beowulf. This meticulously researched book investigates the nature and significance of this golden-hilted weapon and its likely relatives within Beowulf and beyond, drawing on the fields of Old English and Old Norse language and literature, liturgy, archaeology, astronomy, folklore and comparative mythology. In Part I, Pettit explores the complex of connotations surrounding this image (from icicles to candles and crosses) by examining a range of medieval sources, and argues that the giant sword may function as a visual motif in which pre-Christian Germanic concepts and prominent Christian symbols coalesce. In Part II, Pettit investigates the broader Germanic background to this image, especially in relation to the god Ing/Yngvi-Freyr, and explores the capacity of myths to recur and endure across time. Drawing on an eclectic range of narrative and linguistic evidence from Northern European texts, and on archaeological discoveries, Pettit suggests that the image of the giant sword, and the characters and events associated with it, may reflect an elemental struggle between the sun and the moon, articulated through an underlying myth about the theft and repossession of sunlight. The Waning Sword: Conversion Imagery and Celestial Myth in 'Beowulf' is a welcome contribution to the overlapping fields of Beowulf-scholarship, Old Norse-Icelandic literature and Germanic philology. Not only does it present a wealth of new readings that shed light on the craft of the Beowulf-poet and inform our understanding of the poem’s major episodes and themes; it further highlights the merits of adopting an interdisciplinary approach alongside a comparative vantage point. As such, The Waning Sword will be compelling reading for Beowulf-scholars and for a wider audience of medievalists.

Reading the Runes in Old English and Old Norse Poetry

Reading the Runes in Old English and Old Norse Poetry PDF Author: Thomas Birkett
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 9780367880873
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 214

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Book Description
Reading the Runes in Old English and Old Norse Poetry is the first book-length study to compare responses to runic heritage in the literature of Anglo-Saxon England and medieval Iceland. The Anglo-Saxon runic script had already become the preserve of antiquarians at the time the majority of Old English poetry was written down, and the Icelanders recording the mythology associated with the script were at some remove from the centres of runic practice in medieval Scandinavia. Both literary cultures thus inherited knowledge of the runic system and the traditions associated with it, but viewed this literate past from the vantage point of a developed manuscript culture. There has, as yet, been no comprehensive study of poetic responses to this scriptural heritage, which include episodes in such canonical texts as Beowulf, the Old English riddles and the poems of the Poetic Edda. By analysing the inflection of the script through shared literary traditions, this study enhances our understanding of the burgeoning of literary self-awareness in early medieval vernacular poetry and the construction of cultural memory, and furthers our understanding of the relationship between Anglo-Saxon and Norse textual cultures. The introduction sets out in detail the rationale for examining runes in poetry as a literary motif and surveys the relevant critical debates. The body of the volume is comprised of five linked case studies of runes in poetry, viewing these representations through the paradigm of scriptural reconstruction and the validation of contemporary literary, historical and religious sensibilities.

The Medieval North and Its Afterlife

The Medieval North and Its Afterlife PDF Author: Siân Grønlie
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
ISBN: 1501516590
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 318

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Book Description
This book showcases the variety and vitality of contemporary scholarship on Old Norse and related medieval literatures and their modern afterlives. The volume features original new work on Old Norse poetry and saga, other languages and literatures of medieval north-western Europe, and the afterlife of Old Norse in modern English literature. Demonstrating the lively state of contemporary research on Old Norse and related subjects, this collection celebrates Heather O’Donoghue’s extraordinary and enduring influence on the field, as manifested in the wide-ranging and innovative research of her former students and colleagues.

The Elements in the Medieval World

The Elements in the Medieval World PDF Author:
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004696504
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 466

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Book Description
The thirteen essays and the final poem contained in this volume reflect the fundamental importance of water across the whole breadth of medieval endeavour and understanding, as both source of life, and object of scholarly fascination, whose manifestations were the source of rich symbolism and imaginings. Ranging geographically from Ireland to the Arab world and from Iceland to Byzantium and chronologically from the fourth century CE to the sixteenth, the essays explore perceptions and theories of water through a wide range of approaches. Contributors are Michael Bintley, Tom Birkett, Laura Borghetti, Rafał Borysławski, Marilina Cesario, Marusca Francini, Kelly Grovier, Deborah Hayden, Simon Karstens, Andreas Lammer, David Livingstone, Luca Loschiavo, Hugh Magennis, Colin Fitzpatrick Murtha, François Quiviger, Elisa Ramazzina, and Karl Whittington.

Ancient Norse Gods and Viking Myths

Ancient Norse Gods and Viking Myths PDF Author: LEARN ALCHEMICAL
Publisher: LEARN ALCHEMICAL
ISBN:
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 177

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Book Description
Dive into the spellbinding world of Ancient Norse Gods and Viking Myths, a masterful exploration of Scandinavian mythology that uncovers the profound tales of deities, heroes, and the cosmic forces that shaped Viking culture. From the icy mists of Niflheim to the fiery realms of Muspelheim, this book journeys through the myths that illuminate the Norse understanding of creation, destruction, and renewal. Meet legendary figures like Óðinn, the All-Father who sacrificed for wisdom; Thórr, the thunderous protector of mankind; and Loki, the cunning trickster whose schemes paved the way for Ragnarök. Explore the poetic depth of the Eddas, where cosmic battles, prophetic visions, and timeless truths echo through tales of gods, giants, and heroic mortals. Delve into the intricate symbolism of Yggdrasil, the World Tree, and the Nine Realms, unraveling the profound philosophy and resilience of the Norse worldview. Perfect for enthusiasts of mythology, history, or fantasy, this book bridges the ancient and modern, showcasing how these tales continue to inspire literature, art, and popular culture. Ancient Norse Gods and Viking Myths is a celebration of the enduring legacy of a culture where the smallest deeds of courage shine brightest against the shadow of despair. Embark on this journey and let the stories of the North ignite your imagination.

Runic and Heroic Poems of the Old Teutonic Peoples

Runic and Heroic Poems of the Old Teutonic Peoples PDF Author: Bruce Dickins
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107636434
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 107

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Book Description
First published in 1915, this book presents a selection of poems written by 'the Old Teutonic Peoples'. The text is divided into two main sections containing 'Runic Poems' and 'Heroic Poems'. The majority of the poems are of Anglo-Saxon derivation, but there are also Norwegian, Icelandic and Old High German inclusions. All poems are given in the original language with a facing-page English translation. Detailed notes and bibliographies are also included. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in Anglo-Saxon and related poetry.

Studies in Medievalism XXXII

Studies in Medievalism XXXII PDF Author: Karl Fugelso
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
ISBN: 1843846489
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 241

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Book Description
Though manifestations of play represent a burgeoning subject area in the study of post-medieval responses to the Middle Ages, they have not always received the respect and attention they deserve. This volume seeks to correct those deficiencies. Though manifestations of play represent a burgeoning subject area in the study of post-medieval responses to the Middle Ages, they have not always received the respect and attention they deserve. This volume seeks to correct those deficiencies via six essays that directly address how the Middle Ages have been put in play with regard to Alice Munro's 1977 short story "The Beggar Maid"; David Lowery's 2021 film The Green Knight; medievalist archaisms in Japanese video games; runic play in Norse-themed digital games; medievalist managerialism in the 2020 video game Crusader Kings III; and neomedieval architectural praxis in the 2014 video game Stronghold: Crusader II. The approaches and conclusions of those essays are then tested in the second section's six essays as they examine "muscular medievalism" in George R. R. Martin's 1996 novel A Game of Thrones; the queering of the Arthurian romance pattern in the 2018-20 television show She-Ra and the Princesses of Power; the interspecies embodiment of dis/ability in the 2010 film How to Train Your Dragon; late-nineteenth and early twentieth-century nationalism in Irish reimaginings of the Fenian Cycle; post-bellum medievalism in poetry of the Confederacy; and the medievalist presentation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 2020-21 Covid inoculation.