Handbook of Norse Mythology (World Mythology)

Drawing on the latest scholarship, John Lindow, an internationally known authority on the subject, covers the tales, their literary and oral sources, and their emergence into popular tradition, religion, and art. Included in this book: A discussion of literary and oral sources, and speculation on what the myths may have meant to the women and men who related them A survey of such topics as the mythic past, present, and future; cyclical time; time and space; myth, narrative, and language An A-to-Z of the key mythological figures, concepts, and events A guide to the vast wealth of print, web site, video, and CD-ROM resources. A full subject index concludes a volume that is certain to become the standard introduction to a well-loved and haunting mythological tradition. Authoritative, comprehensive reference incorporating the latest research on tales, literary and oral sources, and the broad-reaching cultural legacy of Norse mythology.The book describes the pagan origins of Scandinavia, the interaction between the Vikings and other Europeans, and the concept of time in Norse mythology, and gives a dictionary of deities, themes, and concepts. With 200 entries of up to four pages each, the dictionary includes both well-known characters like Thor and minor figures such as Gleipnir, the'fetter with which the wolf Fenrir was finally bound.'It also includes further references about Viking and medieval Scandinavia, archaeology, etymology, the conversion of Iceland, other encyclopedias, and more. Preliminaries......Page 1 CONTENTS......Page 5 1 Introduction......Page 17 2 Time......Page 55 3 Deities, Themes, and Concepts......Page 63 4 Print and Non-Print Resources......Page 173 INDEX......Page 187 Describes The Themes, Characters, Rituals, And Beliefs Of Norse Mythology.