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SCAND 330: Scandinavian Mythology: Reference Sources: Background Information
Reference Resources
Reference sources, such as encyclopedias, summarize a number of sources and can be useful for brief overviews of a topic, without typically offering much depth. They may be general in scope, or be devoted to a particular subject or discipline. Encyclopedias frequently include useful general information, and may or may not include references to other materials for further reading. While encyclopedias have historically been put together by academic publishers, Wikipedia is an example of a crowd-sourced encyclopedia. Traditional encyclopedias are considered to be more authoritative than Wikipedia due to the accountability between contributors and the publisher (as well as their colleagues in the discipline).
The resources listed on this page represent a selection of electronic reference materials that may help provide context for study of the Norse sagas.
Norse Mythology Reference
Encyclopedia of Norse and Germanic Folklore, Mythology, and Magic by Call Number: Suzzallo and Allen Libraries Stacks BL850 .L4313 2016Publication Date: 2016
Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs by Call Number: Suzzallo and Allen Libraries Stacks: BL860 .L56 2002Publication Date: 2002
The Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend by Call Number: Suzzallo and Allen Libraries Stacks: BL860 .O73 1997Publication Date: 1997
Literary Overviews
A Companion to Old Norse-Icelandic Literature and Culture by 
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Call Number: EBOOKPublication Date: 2005This major survey of Old Norse-Icelandic literature and culture demonstrates the remarkable continuity of Icelandic language and culture from medieval to modern times. Comprises 29 chapters written by leading scholars in the field. Reflects current debates among Old Norse-Icelandic scholars. Pays attention to previously neglected areas of study, such as the sagas of Icelandic bishops and the fantasy sagas. Looks at the ways Old Norse-Icelandic literature is used by modern writers, artists and film directors, both within and outside Scandinavia. Sets Old Norse-Icelandic language and literature in its wider cultural context.
The Routledge Research Companion to the Medieval Icelandic Sagas by - This link opens in a new window
Call Number: EBOOKPublication Date: 2017The last fifty years have seen a significant change in the focus of saga studies, from a preoccupation with origins and development to a renewed interest in other topics, such as the nature of the sagas and their value as sources to medieval ideologies and mentalities. The Routledge Research Companion to the Medieval Icelandic Sagaspresents a detailed interdisciplinary examination of saga scholarship over the last fifty years, sometimes juxtaposing it with earlier views and examining the sagas both as works of art and as source materials. This volume will be of interest to Old Norse and medieval Scandinavian scholars and accessible to medievalists in general.
An Introduction to the Sagas of Icelanders by - This link opens in a new window
Call Number: EBOOKPublication Date: 2020
