
Intro -- Halftitle Page -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication Page -- Preface -- Contents -- List Of Figures -- List Of Abbreviations -- 1. Introduction -- Ragnarök-tradition And Reception -- Ragnarök And Other Terms For The 'end Of The World' -- Outline Of Research History -- Problems And Purpose -- 2. The Historical And Social Contexts -- Natural Environment, Way Of Life, And Society -- Central Places And Their Significance -- Social Groups -- The Social Contexts Of The Ragnarök Myth -- Skalds And Their Praise Poetry -- Seeresses And Their Predictions The Ragnarök Myth In Popular Tradition -- The Milieus Of The Eddic Poems -- 3. V͡luspá: The Prophecy Of The Seeress -- Eddic Poems -- V͡luspá: Text, Setting, And Date -- The Question Of Christian Influence -- Characteristic Features -- Interpretation Of V͡luspá Stanzas 38-66 -- 4. Poetry And Mythographies -- Eddic Poems -- Skaldic Poetry -- Snorri's Edda -- Saxo And Saga Texts -- Ragnarök In The Sources-a Summary -- 5. Ragnarök Illustrated -- Problems Of Interpreting The Iconography -- Discussion Of The Iconographic Material -- 6. The Comparative Contexts -- The Christian Context -- Early Islam Near Eastern Conceptions -- Celtic Remnants Of A Cosmic Eschatology -- Greek And Roman Conceptions -- Iranian Traditions -- Ancient Indic Traditions -- European And West Asian Traditions -- 7. The Signs Of The End And The Final Battle -- Signs Heralding The End Of The World -- Cosmic Upheavals -- Frightening Monsters And Demonic Adversaries -- Fettering And Unleashing Of Demonic Beings -- The Great Battle Of The End -- 8. Destruction And Renewal -- The World Succumbs -- A New World Arises -- What Does The Comparative Material Tell Us? -- 9. The Ragnarök Myth-distinctive Features And Origins The Distinctive Character Of The Ragnarök Myth -- The Origins -- A Distinctive Myth With Indo-european Roots -- Bibliography -- Index Anders Hultgard. Electronic Reproduction. Oxford Available Via World Wide Web.
This work investigates the origins, development, and cross-cultural parallels of the Ragnarök myth within the context of Old Norse belief systems. Anders Hultgård, a scholar of religion, utilizes a rigorous comparative methodology to analyze the eschatological narratives found in Eddic poetry and skaldic verse. By situating these myths within their historical, social, and religious environments, the author argues that Ragnarök represents a unique synthesis of indigenous traditions and external influences.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars and students of medieval studies frequently cite this text as a foundational resource for understanding the complexities of Norse eschatology. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for those with a background in religious history or philology.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
1900-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press,
ISBN-10:
0191959332
ISBN-13:
9780191959332
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