When the Norns Have Spoken: Time and Fate in Germanic PaganismFairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, 2004 - 187 pages This book argues that within Germanic paganism, considered not as mere cult but as a system of beliefs, it is possible to identify a conceptually coherent understanding of fate which detaches that idea from time, and connects it instead with an implicit theses about the nature of truth as written. Germanic cosmogony, as represented in such precise images as a worldtree, provides a context for an analysis of specific metaphors for the workings of fate as woven or spun by such figures as the Norns - the Norse goddesses of destiny. Employing both philosophical and mythic-linguistic considerations, this book also offers new insights into the persistence of a residual paganism in the understanding of fate following the Christian conversion. Anthony Winterboume is an independent scholar. |
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When the Norns Have Spoken: Time and Fate in Germanic Paganism Anthony Winterbourne No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
abstract ancient Anglo-Saxon Assmann Bauschatz belief in fate Cahen Cambridge Cassirer causality Christian concept of fate connection context cosmic cosmogony cosmos cult practices cultic cultures Cumont death destiny divine djet Eddic Eddic Poetry Egyptian example expressed fatalism fatalist feud Fletcher function Germanic mythology Germanic paganism gnostic goddess gods Greek Grimnismal Gruyter Gylfaginning heathen Heliand human Ibid Iceland Indo-European Indo-European Studies insists language least literature Lithuanian mythology logical London magic man's matter means Moirai monotheism myth Norns Norse mythology Norsemen noted Oðin Old Norse Onians Orkneyinga Saga Oxford past philosophical poem Poetic Edda Poetry Ragnarok relation religion religious ritual roots runes Rydberg Saga says Scandinavian scholars seems seen sense shamanistic significance simply somehow Spengler spinning stanza symbolic temporal thinking thought tion tradition trans Translated tree true ture University Press Voluspa weaving word world ash-tree world-tree wyrd Yggdrasill