"Speak Useful Words or Say Nothing": Old Norse Studies

by Joseph Harris, Susan E. Deskis (Editor), Thomas E. Hill Jr. (Editor)

Overview

This selection by Susan E. Deskis and Thomas D. Hill of twelve of Joseph Harris's most important essays underscores the range of his work from critical readings of canonical texts to philological elucidation of Old Norse and Old English literary works to discussions of larger theoretical issues such as oral theory. One of the central problems of medieval literary scholarship is the aesthetics of traditional and oral literature, and how and whether one can meaningfully discuss the literary history of an oral genre. Harris's studies of such topics as the Old Norse short narrative and of the Masterbuilder tale focus precisely on such problems and offer brilliant readings of specific texts as well as models of literary historical discourse. "Speak Useful Words or Say Nothing" also shows that Harris's work frequently bridges the divide between the Latin and Christian sources and the native vernacular traditions that together found their way into Old Norse and Old English literature.For more about the Islandica series, visit http://cip.cornell.edu/Islandica.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780935995060
Publisher:	Cornell University Press
Publication date:	06/15/2009
Series:	Islandica , #53
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Joseph Harris is the Francis Lee Higginson Professor of English literature and Professor of Folklore at Harvard University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Tabula Gratulatoria ix

Preface xi

Abbreviations xiii

Introduction 1

Christian Form and Christian Meaning in Halldors pattr I 5

Ogmundar pattr dytts ok Gunnars helmings: Unity and Literary Relations 21

The Masterbuilder Tale in Snorri's Edda and Two Sagas 51

Theme and Genre in Some Islendinga paettir 97

Gu<$$$>runarbrog<$$$> and the Saxon Lay of Grimhild's Perfidy 127

The King in Disguise: An International Popular Tale in Two Old Icelandic Adaptations 137

Satire and the Heroic Life: Two Studies (Helgakvi<$$$>a Hundingbana I, 18 and Bjorn Hitdoelakappi's Gramagaflim) 171

Eddic Poetry as Oral Poetry: The Evidence of Parallel Passages in the Helgi Poems for Questions of Composition and Performance 189

Saga as Historical Novel 227

Gender and Genre: Short and Long Forms in the Saga Literature 261

Love and Death in the Mannerbund: An Essay with Special Reference to the Bjarkamal and The Battle of Maldon 287

Romancing the Rune: Aspects of Literacy in Early Scandinavian Orality 319