Tag: anglo-saxon
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Beowulf, Part 1: “Poetically Recreating the Past.”
Behold! the first episode of our read-through of R.M. Liuzza’s translation of Beowulf! In this gathering, we discuss pages 11 through 18 of the introduction, which provides us with the knowledge that we need to responsibly read this epic poem (and medieval literature as a whole). Along the way, we highlight the following questions: how…
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Pod-Prep: Beginning Beowulf
The votes are in, my friends! Our Thingmen over on Twitter have decided which work of medieval literature will kickstart the revival of The Fjorn’s Hall Podcast: Beowulf. Indeed, it has been decided that I will take on one of the most discussed works of medieval literature right off the bat. Prepare for (some) disappointment.…
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What is Feud? Solving Problems with an Axe (ft. Beowulf)
Many of the great sagas and ancient lore from the medieval North recount endless, bloody feuds between generations of prominent families: a conflict ends, peace…
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Feuding, I: What is Feud? Solving Problems with an Axe
Many of the great sagas and ancient lore from the medieval North recount endless, bloody feuds between generations of prominent families: a conflict ends, peace…
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Notes on Old English Literature
Anonymous asked: Did Anglo-Saxon speaking peoples have anything similar to Nordic sagas? They most certainly did, although I know much less about their literature than I should. Based on what time has allowed us to recover, it seems that the Norse (but especially the Icelanders) produced more saga-type writing than their neighbors did in England. But,…
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Vikings in England: Knutr and Hastings
During the reign of Æthelred the Unready, England was at the mercy of renewed Viking aggression. This time, however, there was no King Alfred to save the day. The Viking leader Sveinn Forkbeard conquered England in 1013, but died shortly after. Svein’s power quickly dissolves, but eventually a Viking named Knútr regains power over England,…
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Vikings in England: the Danelaw and the Unready
Despite King Alfred’s best attempts, he did not rid England of the Vikings permanently. Although he gave them a fight, pushing their ‘Great Army’ away from England, there were still many Danes who settled northeast England, primarily in the kingdom of Northumbria. The story after King Alfred then unfolds as king after king addresses this problem,…
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Vikings in England: the Great Army vs King Alfred
THE ARRIVAL of the ‘Great Army’ in England marked a turning point, “transitioning from seasonal raiding to a more permanent Viking presence in England.” ‘Great Army’ is a term that has been translated from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which uses the term micel here. The leaders of this Danish army were the legendary sons of Ragnarr Loðbrók: Ívarr hinn Beinlausi (the Boneless) and Halfdán Ragnarsson. CONTENTS:I.…
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Vikings in England: Early Raids
Beginning as early as the 780s, England was among the first places to be hit by Viking raids. The earliest of these attacks lasted up until around 822, followed by a period of settlement in the 840s and the arrival of the “Great Army” in 865. Unlike with Francia, the Vikings would end up being…
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Learning Old Norse and Old English
noahandhisdragons asked: Just started following your blog here, truly wonderfully packed full kernels of knowledge. I am interested in learning old Norse as well as Old English. Any suggestions on best approaches (books, etc) to learn it on my own? I welcome you to my blog then! I am glad to know that you are satisfied…
