Overview of the mythological traditions of the Germanic peoples and their continuing presence in Western culture.

This course surveys the mythological tradition of Northern Europe, including the legends that have inspired Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle operas and Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Using the original texts in translation, we will examine the influence of Christianity on the continental Germanic mythology in comparison with the Viking Sagas of Iceland. We will also discuss how Germanic mythology compares to other traditions such as Celtic and Greco-Roman mythology. Part of new Folklore Minor.