ENG 298 - Vikings and Old Norse Culture

In the years 800-1066, the Vikings reshaped the the history and politics of Europe, raiding, conquering, settling and trading in an area of influence that reached from Byzantium in the east to North America in the west and from Iceland in the north to as far south as Spain and Italy. 1000 years later, the rediscovery of their literature spread throughout both elite and popular culture. In this course we will study the history and the culture of the Norsemen and their engagement with the rest of Europe. We will read the ancient Eddaic poems, Snorri Sturlusson’s rewriting of Norse myth, and some of the Icelandic Sagas, including the greatest of them all, Njal’s Saga (as rich and complex as any modern novel). Students will learn that although Vikings wearing horned helmets and drinking from the skulls of their enemies are merely myths, the reality of Old Norse culture is far often more extreme—and amazing—than the imaginations of later popularizers. The course fulfills a Pre-1800 requirement for English majors.

Credits 4

Notes
From time to time, departments design a new course to be offered either on a one-time basis or an experimental basis before deciding whether to make it a regular part of the curriculum. Last offered Spring 2023.

Area
Humanities

Division
Arts and Humanities

Compass Attributes
Humanities