Introduction to Norse Mythology

his five-week summer course provides a brief introduction to what J.R.R. Tolkien called the Matter of Old Norse: the stories and legends, gods and heroes of the North. Discover the world of ice and fire that ignited the imagination of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, William Morris, Richard Wagner, the Brothers Grimm, Ursula K. Le Guin, Neil Gaiman, and many more.

We will explore and discuss such central themes as heroism, the search for wisdom, the magic of words, and the clash of gods and giants. We will also learn about the history and culture of the Norse people and about Norse mythology’s continuing influence on our language and our world. Students will read the most important stories of the Norse legends and retell their own myth at the end of the course.