Myth in Early Northwest Europe
Carolyne Larrington
This volume takes its origins from the Fifth Brook Symposium on ‘Language and Myth’, held at Manchester University in 2001. Among dedicatees is Phill Pulsiano, a scholar early Germanic literature, who died young, some years ago, it sobering to note publishers’ back-cover tribute Stephen Glosecki, editor of this volume, did not live see publication. The book starts with Glosecki's lively and, places, poetic introduction both history mythological theory over last two hundred individual contributions here. Thickly qualified by long footnotes, an exemplary introduction, emphasising that, while myth ritual are ‘elementally intertwined’ (p. xv), one source other. Glosecki suggests that myths essentially ‘shifting micro-stories’ xxvii), chain motifs rather than narratives, always refracting unreconstructable, perhaps never existent, prior version. John Niles's chapter argues tell truth through lies, linking social. Craig Davis continues general discussion as cultural phenomenon, defining ‘patterns eventuality’ arguing, controversially, Beowulf must be seen dead end; Anglo-Saxon epitome pagan past, now put aside for ever. own article gives account OE metrical charms, ‘thorny little patches verse, bristling recipes’ 47). Following Niles, he deploys striking parallelism: metaphor language. charms evoke ‘micro-stories’, bringing mythic time into intersection normal time. Fluent, vigorous translations included here; final lines ‘the invisible beasts’, thought Anglo-Saxons bring illness, strike poignant note.
The English Historical Review