IMC 2012: Sessions

Session 1318: Regulating Society in Medieval Scandinavia: The Roles of Supernatural Beings

Sponsor:	Leeds Studies in English
Organiser:	Alaric Hall, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki
Moderator/Chair:	Alaric Hall, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki
Paper 1318-a	The Enemy Within: The Function of the Witch-Queen in Old Norse Literature (Language: English) David Hugh Varley, Department of English Studies, Durham University Index terms: Language and Literature - Scandinavian, Mentalities, Pagan Religions
Paper 1318-b	Valkyrjar and Wælcyrgan: Damsels or Demons? (Language: English) Luke John Murphy, School of Social Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík Index terms: Language and Literature - Old English, Language and Literature - Scandinavian, Mentalities, Pagan Religions
Abstract	Looking at a range of genres, the papers will examine medieval Scandinavian encounters with the supernatural/paranormal. They will tackle both concepts (e.g. Old Norse fjölkynngi, forneskja, trollskapur, vs. magic, witchcraft, shamanism, etc.) and narratives to elucidate the roles of the supernatural in interrogating and regulating boundaries of class, gender, and religion.