This course is an introduction to the religion of the Vikings as it is recorded in Old Norse and Scandinavian literature from the medieval period. You will learn about the different written sources and what they can teach us about pre-Christian religion in northern Europe in the Viking Age. The course surveys the primary collection of Old Norse poetry about the pre-Christian Scandinavian gods, the Poetic Edda. We will also work with the main collections of stories about the Old Norse gods in prose: Snorri Sturluson's Edda and Saxo's History of the Danes.
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Old Norse Mythology in the Sources
University of Colorado BoulderAbout this Course
This course only requires that you have an interest in Old Norse Mythology.
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Try Coursera for BusinessSkills you will gain
- Poetry
- Literature
- Religion
- Mythology
- Scandinavian History
This course only requires that you have an interest in Old Norse Mythology.
Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?
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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Introduction
The Eddic Poems
Additional Sources
Final Assessment
Reviews
- 5 stars76.64%
- 4 stars17.25%
- 3 stars2.03%
- 2 stars3.04%
- 1 star1.01%
TOP REVIEWS FROM OLD NORSE MYTHOLOGY IN THE SOURCES
Really enjoyed a different perspective than the minor in scandinavian studies I took in undergrad. Wish there was more reading of the actual stories instead of recaps!
This covers the basics of the myths and establishes a basic understanding of the historical and cultural context and knowledge that we currently have surrounding the sources.
I enjoyed the course and now I have a better understanding of my Norse ancestors. I have started to read the Edda's again and they are easier to understand.
Very enjoyable. I learned a lot. I appreciate the quizzes, which enabled me to consolidate the material so that I can remember it (after multiple attempts, which was very useful).
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