Norse Myth Classes

REGISTER NOW FOR NORSE MYTHOLOGY CLASSES IN CHICAGO!

An 18th-century Edda manuscript

Norse Mythology: Exploring the Eddas
February 27 - April 24
(no class on March 27)
Wednesdays, 5:45pm - 7:45pm
Instructor: Dr. Karl E. H. Seigfried

Newberry Library
60 W Walton St
Chicago IL 60610

$190 General Public
$171 Associate Members
$171 Seniors / Students

Take a tour through the Eddas, two medieval texts that are primary sources of information about Norse mythology. We will explore tales of gods and goddesses such as mighty Thor, mystical Odin, and mysterious Freya as we examine the stories that inspired Richard Wagner, J.R.R. Tolkien, Led Zeppelin, and Marvel Comics.

Snorri Sturluson on an
Icelandic postage stamp

The two Eddas were written down in 13th-century Iceland. Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda tells mythic stories that have been read lovingly around the world for generations. However, the book has some deeply problematical aspects that we will examine as we discuss other sources. The Poetic Edda is an anonymous collection of mythic and religious poetry with roots in Iceland's pre-Christian oral tradition. Students will learn to decode the mysteries of this classic collection, one of the great works of Western literature. We will also read H.R. Ellis Davidson's Gods and Myths of Northern Europe, an accessible text that clearly situates the Eddas in a historical context.

Dr. Seigfried will help students gain a deep understanding of both Eddas, which reference a plethora of other sources – many of which have been lost. Multimedia class presentations will incorporate elements of anthropology, archaeology, comparative religion, cultural studies, history, literary criticism and linguistics. Class sessions will include:

• Discussion of primary documents, scholarly analysis (historical and current) and artistic interpretations

• Placement of the Eddas in a wider context of historical events – such as northern Europe’s conversion to Christianity

• Relation of seemingly fantastic mythic elements to religious ritual – including Saami-derived shamanism (as described in saga literature) and pre-Christian Germanic practices (recorded in Roman sources)

• Examination of the role of sexuality in the mythology and evidence for changing roles of women in Norse society

• Consideration of the ways in which the Eddas represent an intermediate stage in the descent from religion to myth to legend to fairy tale to superstition.

We'll meet the giantess
Skaði in class, too!

Dr. Karl E. H. Seigfried teaches Norse religion at Carthage College and writes The Norse Mythology Blog, voted Best Religion Weblog 2012 by international popular vote. He has taught Norse myth at Loyola University Chicago and been a featured writer and lecturer at the Joseph Campbell Foundation and the Wagner Society of America. He's a member of the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Study, the Viking Society for Northern Research (UK) and the Religion Newswriters Association. He's also the Official Norse Mythologist of the Stephanie Miller Show. He holds degrees in literature and music from University of California-San Diego, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and University of Texas-Austin and has spent time in Iceland, researching historical and contemporary Norse religion.

Chicago's beautiful and historic Newberry Library 

The Newberry Library is across from Chicago's Washington Square Park (a few blocks west of Michigan Avenue) and is accessible by public transportation. An independent research library concentrating in the humanities with an active educational and cultural presence in the city, it is open to the public and houses an extensive collection of rare books, maps, music, manuscripts and other printed material.

Questions? Contact Dr. Seigfried via this page.

Click here to register on the Newberry's secure website.