Festlig Faglig Fredag with Corinna Scheungraber – and semesterstartsdrinks

For the first Festlig Faglig Fredag of the semester, Corinna Scheungraber will present

Echoes of myth and magic: Heroic and divine epithets in early Germanic literature

Here is Corinna's introduction to the talk:

In my presentation, I will present the findings of my Marie-Curie postdoctoral research project “Epithets of Gods and Heroes in Old Germanic and Beyond”. Delving into the texts of Old Germanic literature, such as the iconic Beowulf and the mystical Hávamál, I will unravel the epithets associated with Gods, heroes, and monsters in order to explore the distinctions between the heathen Gods, valiant heroes like Sigurd Dragonslayer, and the formidable monsters, dwarves and dragons that populate these ancient tales. My presentation will offer a sweeping overview of the project results, mostly looking into the semantic and poetic functions of the epithets within Germanic literature, as well as into recurring stylistic features such as alliteration, metonymies, metaphors, pars pro toto figures, and the evocative power of kennings. These stylistic devices like kennings and epithets do not only enrich the poetic fabric of the texts but also serve as gateways to historical, cultural, and mythological realms, showcasing the brilliant craftsmanship of the poets.

Everyone is welcome to join! As always, we will meet from 16:00, and the talk will begin at 16:15.

After the talk, the evening will continue with semesterstartsdrinks, our celebration marking the beginning of a new semester and academic year.

The talk will be streamed as well. A link will be posted here on the day.