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Type of Document Thesis Author Nielsen, Eva URN etd-04112005-125543 Title The Elder Edda Revisited: Past and Present Performances of the Icelandic Eddic Poems Degree Master of Arts Department Theatre, School of Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title Laura Edmondson Committee Chair Carrie Sandahl Committee Member Mary Karen Dahl Committee Member Keywords
- Religion
- Oral Tradition
- Middle Ages
- Theatre History
- Eddic Poems
- Iceland
- Scandinavian Drama
- Elder Edda
- Norse mythology
- Music
Date of Defense 2005-03-16 Availability unrestricted Abstract The historical, national, and academic values of the Icelandic Eddic poems—or Elder Edda—have received much scholarly attention in the past. Yet, there is another aspect of these poems that deserves more exploration and consideration: that of their theatrical history.
In this thesis, I argue that the Eddic poems were used in some type of dramatic performances in the early Middle Ages. My main criteria include the inherent dramatic dialogue of the poems as well as the suggested performer-audience relationships that lie within. While conducting an investigation of some basic medieval performance theories, including modes and places of performance, I will also examine the coexistence of the, relatively pagan, mythological Eddic poems and Christianity—which was introduced to the Icelanders at the turn of the eleventh century. Finally, I will utilize the abovementioned research and develop a contemporary production proposal of my own. In doing so, I will be drawing upon historical context, not in the interests of constructing a historically accurate production but to provide insight into the cultural context from which the poems emerged.
Essentially, I argue that the Elder Edda holds a prominent place in theatre history, and this thesis will highlight the poems’ past and present contributions to the field.
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28.8 Modem 56K Modem ISDN (64 Kb) ISDN (128 Kb) Higher-speed Access 01Title_Page.pdf 52.07 Kb 00:00:14 00:00:07 00:00:06 00:00:03 < 00:00:01 02Signature_Page.pdf 40.31 Kb 00:00:11 00:00:05 00:00:05 00:00:02 < 00:00:01 03Content_Figures_Abstract.pdf 78.34 Kb 00:00:21 00:00:11 00:00:09 00:00:04 < 00:00:01 04Main_Thesis.pdf 932.44 Kb 00:04:19 00:02:13 00:01:56 00:00:58 00:00:04