Still working through this, but it looks interesting so far. I've got my preliminary review up on my blog: Still working through this, but it looks interesting so far. I've got my preliminary review up on my blog: ...more
Another that I bought to bone up on my comparative mythology. I should certainly do the Epic of Gilgamesh too, but I think this book is supposed to beAnother that I bought to bone up on my comparative mythology. I should certainly do the Epic of Gilgamesh too, but I think this book is supposed to be a collection of shorter, maybe even earlier works or fragments. As with my notes on Rig Veda, I feel like I would need to go through this with someone who really knows it. ...more
Bought this a while back and started getting through some of it, but need to get back to it. I should definitely read it, as one working in a branch oBought this a while back and started getting through some of it, but need to get back to it. I should definitely read it, as one working in a branch of IndoEuropean mythology (and comparative mythology has been so important over the last century and before), but I feel like I need someone who really understands it going through it with me-- the notes just seem to underline the huge amount that is lost in translation. ...more
A collection of essays by Segal relating to the topic of mythology. I haven't read them all, but have enjoyed what I got to. I really enjoyed his MythA collection of essays by Segal relating to the topic of mythology. I haven't read them all, but have enjoyed what I got to. I really enjoyed his Myth: A Very Short Introduction, and enjoyed getting to see some of his more "advanced" scholarly work. ...more
Naturally my review has turned out to be too long, so I'll post what I can and then post the rest as comments. And if anyone in a position of power atNaturally my review has turned out to be too long, so I'll post what I can and then post the rest as comments. And if anyone in a position of power at goodreads sees this, please give us more room to write!
An excellent translation of Snorri's Edda, or the Prose Edda. I hear Jesse Byock has a translation out as well which I'll have to check out, but I see no reason for the beginner to try anything other than Faulkes'-- at the very least, I believe his academic work has had him more involved in research on Edda than Byock's, but I could be wrong. Of course, I know Byock's been doing some work on oral history that could be considered relevant to Edda, but as far as that whole topic goes I recommend Gisli Sigurdsson instead. I believe Faulkes takes the majority or all of his translation from the Codex Regius manuscript, which is the primary one. As another review has said, Faulkes is one of the few translators to include Skaldskaparmal, which contains many of the most important stories. Well, some older translations include the interesting bits but leave out the rest. But with Faulkes you get the whole thing, and it serves as a reminder that Edda was not written as a handbook on mythology, but as a Poetics-- in fact, I believe Faulkes subscribes (as I do) to the idea that "Edda" (the book is named this in the Uppsala codex-- the name for Poetic or Elder Edda was applied to that MSS in the 1600s) is derived from the Latin verb for "compose", "edo" (based on a comparison to the Old Norse adaptation of the word "credo" to "kredda"). I think it was Magnus Olsen who first suggested that the book was originally written in reverse order. As we have it, it begins with a prologue (which may or may not have been written by Snorri) in which we are given a euhemeristic explanation for the gods, claiming that they are magicians who left Troy after the Trojan war and came to Sweden because their leader Odin prophecied that they would thrive there-- after arrival they convince the inhabitants they are gods (though I could be confusing a bit of this account with that in Ynglinga saga, or even Gylfaginning), which leads us to the next section, Gylfaginning (=The Deluding of Gylfi), which frames a summary of the mythology (especially the creation, Ragnarok, the main gods and some representative stories, basically along the lines of Voluspa/Seeress' Prophecy, which he constantly quotes) with a dialogue between the Swedish King Gylfi and the immigrant, magical Aesir from Asia Minor. After that we have Skaldskaparmal (=Poetic Diction), which begins with but doesn't sustain a frame narrative in which Aegir (in some places a "sea king", in some a giant or sea god) is at a feast with the Aesir (this could be the feast that the Aesir force the giant Aegir to host in Hymir's poem and Loki's quarrel in Poetic Edda) and questions Bragi, the god of poetry (apparently derived from the supposed court poet Bragi from around 850 who composed the first known skaldic poems, or drottkvaett stanzas-- the sort of poetry Snorri is teaching here) on the art of poetry, mainly kennings in this case, which are ornate circumlocutions used in drottkvaett (and to a lesser degree of ornateness in all Germanic alliterative verse). Most of these kennings are based on mythological stories, so Bragi explains many of these kennings by telling these stories. Eventually Skaldskaparmal turns into a bunch of lists of "heiti", which aren't kennings proper but just other ways of referring to things. ...more
This is a beautifully short and easy to follow introduction to the different theoretical approaches taken to the study of myth. The 5 star rating mighThis is a beautifully short and easy to follow introduction to the different theoretical approaches taken to the study of myth. The 5 star rating might be a tad high, as this book isn't exactly adding anything earth shattering to the field, and there are places where I thought things could have been presented a bit differently or more clearly, but overall this is an excellent presentation for the new comer who wants a quick yet comprehensive overview of the field. Also good for the more advanced student is the middle portion of Bengt Holbeck's On the Interpretation of Fairy Tales, though he is obviously dealing with fairy tales rather than mythology (but much of what he says runs parallel to the field of mythology). Holdbeck's book is also hard to find, while you can find Segal's without any real trouble. ...more
Still need to get around to reading through this book in earnest, though I'm familiar with the basic premise (actually, I've probably gotten the wholeStill need to get around to reading through this book in earnest, though I'm familiar with the basic premise (actually, I've probably gotten the whole thing over the years from John's lectures). The primary thesis involves interpreting the myth of Baldr's death in light of the Icelandic feud culture, I suspect with some nods to Margaret Clunies Ross (Prolonged Echoes) and William Ian Miller (Bloodtaking and Peacemaking). There are also some references to the account of Baldr's funeral in Husdrapa, which is my main concern for my dissertation. ...more
I've actually only read parts of this book, but strongly recommend it as a collection of major (even watershed) writings in the field of "sacred folklI've actually only read parts of this book, but strongly recommend it as a collection of major (even watershed) writings in the field of "sacred folklore", or mythology. For example, you can find one of Levi-Strauss' early applications of Structuralist interpretation to Myth, or Dundes' own Earth-Diver analysis, which is, of course, Freudian (though Dundes was also a major force in bringing Structuralist interpretation to mainstream folklore studies). I also recommend Dundes' collection "International folkloristics", though I haven't been able to find that book on Good Reads-- I'll have to add it at some point. ...more
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