SYLLABUS

TEXTS:

1) Any standard (i.e., not a children's) collection of Greek myths and legends.

2) Crossley-Holland, Kevin, ed., Scandinavian Myths and Legends (Pantheon)

3) Gantz, Jeffrey, ed., Early Irish Myths and Sagas (Penguin)

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

The course grade will be based on three exams, each consisting of short answer or brief essay questions. Exams will not be cumulative (except for general terms and concepts). Exams will be approximately June 12, June 25, and July 2. Exact dates will be announced (and I'm very flexible about make-up exams). The first two exams will be one hundred points and the third exam will be fifty points.. Exams will be based on class lecture and discussion, and on assigned readings (both in the texts and on the Internet.)

I will not take role, but be aware that the exams are based largely on class lectures. THE INTERNET NOTES THAT I AM MAKING AVAILABLE TO YOU ARE MEANT AS A SUPPLEMENT TO, NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR, CLASS LECTURES.

Introduction and Theories "Prehistoric Myth"	A Definition of Myth Characteristics of Myth Euhemerism Solar Mythology Cultural Evolution Myth-Ritual Functionalism Psychoanalytic Interpretation New Comparative Theory Current Trends Metaphor, Cognition, and Liminality The Paleolithic Paleolithic Myth? The Neolithic Neolithic Myth? Sumeria: The First Recorded Myth Cultural History
GREEK MYTH Creation of the Universe Gaia & Uranos Rhea and Kronos Zeus & the Titans The Creation of Man The Four Ages of Man Pandora Zeus Poseidon Hades Hera Athena Artemis Aphrodite Hestia Ares Hephaistos Hermes Apollo Demeter Dionysos	Issues in Greek Mythology Sources of Greek Myth Myth Before Homer Cosmogony and Eschatology Orphic Cosmogony Hesiod's Cosmogony 1 Greek Cosmology Hesiod's Cosmogony 2 The Titans Kronos and Rhea The Titanomachy Hesiod's Cosmogony: A Feminist Critique The Creation of Man The Ages of Man The Culture-Bearer The Civilizing of Man The Creation of Woman The Flood The Greek Pantheon Zeus Poseidon Hades Hera Athena Artemis Aphrodite Hestia Ares Hephaistos Hermes Apollo Demeter Dionysos
GERMANIC MYTH (in Crossley-Holland) Introduction, "The Creation," " The Lay of Grimnir," "The Lay of Vafthrudnir," "The Lay of Alvis," "Ragnarok," "The War of the Aesir and the Vanir," "The building of Asgard's Walls," "Lord of the Gallows," "The Mead of Poetry," "Skyrnir's Journey," "The Lay of Thrym," "Thor's Duel with Hrungnir," "Odin and Billing's Daughter," "The Lay of Harbard," "The Ballad of Svipdag," "Thor and Geirrod," "Balder's Dreams," "The Death of Balder," "Loki's Flyting," "The Death of Loki" REGINSMAL, FAFNISMAL, VOLUNDARKVIDA, GROGALDR, FJOLSVINNSMAL	Issues in Germanic Mythology Icelandic Settlement Sources of Germanic Myth Germanic Prehistoric "Myth" Germanic Gods Norse Cosmology: The Standard View Norse Cosmology: The Reality Norse Cosmogony: Creation Norse Cosmogony: The Building of Ásgarð's Wall Norse Cosmogony: The War of the Vánir and the Æsir Norse Cosmogony: The Mead of Poetry Germanic Ritual and Worship Óðinn Týr Þórr The Battle of Þórr and Hrungnir Loki Baldr Heimdall Njorðr Freyr Freyja Freyja Avatars Virgin Goddesses
CELTIC MYTH In Gantz) "The Wooing of Étaín," "The Dream of Óengus," "The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel," "The Labor Pains of the Ulaid & the Twins of Macha," "The Intoxication of the Ulaid," "Bricriu's Feast"	Issues in Celtic Mythology Continental Inscriptions Continental Gods and Goddesses The Six Ages of Man The First and Second Battle of Mag Tuired Irish Goddesses Lug The Dagda