Þrymskviða: Gender and the Gods by Mo https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods en-us 2020-11-18 13:12:29 UTC 2023-02-13 05:56:49 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/2640.png 'Ah, what a lovely maid it is!' Elmer Boyd Smith (1902) moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936614712 2020-11-18 13:53:14 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936614712 In conjunction with Njall's saga moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936618890 As with Njall's saga, Þrymskviða highlights the interactions of masculine and feminine sexes.
In both we witness interpersonal relationships or feuds of men being pushed to resolution through the control of women.
Þorr and Þrymr's conflict is both caused by and resolved through Freyja, just as Hallgerdr incites much of the violence in Njall's saga. 

]]> 2020-11-18 13:54:03 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936618890 Crossdressing as a plot device moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936727204
  • Central to both the complication and resolution of the plot
  • Presented as comedic in the character of Þorr, but natural in Loki
  • Use in Shakespearean comedies (~1/5  of his plays involve cross-dressing)
    • ]]>     2020-11-18 14:13:45 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936727204     moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936764653 "Not dissimilar to the confusion and problematisation of gender roles in much of Shakespearean comedy cross-dressing is an integral part of the mechanics of the plot”
    Acker and Larrington (1996)]]>     2020-11-18 14:20:16 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936764653     Cross-Dressing moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936781402 2020-11-18 14:22:58 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936781402 Points to consider moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936811717
  • Is there a dual standard for gender (Loki vs. Þorr)
  • What represents masculinity/femininity?
  • How do objects/appearance help reinforce the idea of masculinity in Þrymskviða?
  • Maintenance of honour through masculinity 
  • Is the subversion of identity purely for comedic effect?
    • ]]>     2020-11-18 14:28:04 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936811717     Welcome! moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936898873 2020-11-18 14:42:45 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936898873 Introducing Gender moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936906442 2020-11-18 14:44:03 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936906442 Bridal Attire moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936952660 Bindo vér Þór þá brúðar líni
    hafi hann iþ micla men Brísinga!
    Látom und hánom hrynia lucla
    oc qvennváðir um kné falla,
    enn á briósti breiða steina,
    oc hagliga um ho˛fuð typpom!     (Edda 113)

    Let’s dress Thor in a bridal head-dress,
    let him wear the great necklace of the Brisings.
    Let keys jingle about him
    and let women’s clothing fall down to his knees,
    and on his breast let’s display jewels,
    and we’ll arrange a head-dress suitably on his head! ]]>     2020-11-18 14:52:05 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/936952660     Argr in translation moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/937193526 Effeminate, perverted, dastardly, wicked (Faulkes, 2007)

    ]]>     2020-11-18 15:32:47 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/937193526     Argr in Þrymskviða moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/937253013 Þá qvað þat Þórr, þrúðugr áss:
     ‘Mic muno æsir argan kalla,
     ef ec bindaz læt brúðar líni.     (Edda 113)
     Then said Thor, the vigorous god:
     “The Æsir will call me a pervert,
     if I let you put a bride’s veil on me.” ]]>     2020-11-18 15:43:05 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/937253013     Loki breaking the binary moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/937373030 Loki suffers under the label three times in Locasenna, for his 'feminine' behaviours e.g.  bearing children and milking cows. Yet this seemingly derogatory term is used only by Þorr in Þrymskviða to express his fear of shame and dishonour by being emasculated.
    Arguably, the lack of this in reference to Loki acts not only as a reminder of his other exploits, but reinforces how shameful an act this would be for Þorr as the protector of the gods, whose whole image is reliant on his unrelenting masculinity. ]]>     2020-11-18 16:04:21 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/937373030     What makes a man? moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/937385104 2020-11-18 16:06:22 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/937385104 Return to manhood (Njall's saga) moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940274974 Arguably it is the return to normalcy (or in this case Thor's masculinity) that makes such actions acceptable in this poem. We see a similar scenario in Njálls saga. Flosi has surrounded Njall’s farmstead to burn it,  but he allows the women amongst others to leave. 
    Helgi wears a woman’s cloak  in order to leave with the women.
    Once he has left he removes the disguise and wounds an enemy with his previously concealed weapon before he is killed.
    "In this manner Helgi’s manhood is firmly reestablished, and he dies an honourable Viking death." (Frankki, 2012).
    This is reflected in the Eddic poem when Þorr regains his hammer, and therefore his masculinity. Both then proceed to reinforce their masculinity by wounding (or killing) others around them.]]>     2020-11-19 08:01:27 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940274974     moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940311659 Gakk þú út með mér og mun eg kasta yfir þig kvenskikkju og falda þig með höfuðdúki.
    Come out with me and I’ll put a woman’s cloak on you and wrap your head with a scarf]]>     2020-11-19 08:14:59 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940311659     moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940349950 “Loki’s successful impersonation of a quick-witted maid underlines his androgynous character”
    (Acker and Larrington, 1996)]]>     2020-11-19 08:28:15 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940349950     Þorr's Hammer moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940353201 2020-11-19 08:29:21 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940353201 Thor vs. Thrym Louis Moe (1906) moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940355908 2020-11-19 08:30:17 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940355908 The hammer is taken moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940363115 Þorr's hammer is taken while he sleeps, as such we must then consider the significance of the bed chamber. Þorr's manhood/identity being removed while he sleeps may connote a forced emasculation that is further pressed when he must take on the role of a female bride.
    Arguably, this holds connotations of rape - the bedchamber, loss of masculinity and symbolic loss of Þorr's status as a protector all seem to support this.]]>     2020-11-19 08:32:51 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940363115     Symbolism moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940366508
  • Virility 
  • Masculine identity 
  • Strength 
  • Continuation/survival of gods 
  • Honour and status as both protector and warrior 
    • ]]>     2020-11-19 08:34:00 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940366508     moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940381313 The hammer not only stands as a symbol of Þorr's virility but also of the god's continued survival. It's loss threatens the gods with extinction in so much that Þorr is willing to further sacrifice his masculinity to regain it.]]> 2020-11-19 08:39:25 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940381313 moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940392499 '“a symbolic castration” of the mighty Thor' (Frankki, 2012)]]> 2020-11-19 08:43:31 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/940392499 Can we call it a parody? moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/966943394 2020-11-28 11:30:15 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/966943394 The uses of þorr's hammer moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/966951138 2020-11-28 11:40:22 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/966951138 Questions for Discussion moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/966955591 2020-11-28 11:46:10 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/966955591 moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/966956828 Is þorr reliant on his hammer (Mjollnir) to reinforce his identity?
    How can we interpret Loki's role in this Eddic poem? (Is it solely a contrast to þorr?)    ]]>     2020-11-28 11:47:42 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/966956828     Bibliography moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/966968030
  • Acker and Larrington (1996) The Poetic Edda: Essays on Old Norse Mthology; Reading Þrymskviða pp. 180-192
  • Ellis-Davidson (1964) Gods and Myths of Northern Europe. pp. 83-84
  • Faulkes (2007) A New Introduction to Old Norse: Glossary pp. 14
  • Frankki (2012) Cross-Dressing in the Poetic Edda: Mic muno Æsir argan kalla pp. 425-437
  • Larrington (2008) The Poetic Edda 

    • ]]>     2020-11-28 12:03:30 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/966968030     Additional Note moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/966973624 I don't know if anyone else has an interest in opera but there's one based on Þrymskviða which goes by the same name. It premiered in 1974 and the libretto is based mainly on the poem but also includes other Eddic poems.
    It's also the first full length Icelandic opera!]]>     2020-11-28 12:11:01 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/966973624     moyaevans01 https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/970778131 Background image:
    'Thrym's Wedding Feast'
    Bray (1908) The Poetic Edda; Edited and translated with introduction and notes by Olive Bray. Illustrated by W.G. p.g. 127]]>     2020-11-30 11:21:58 UTC https://padlet.com/moyaevans01/GenderAndTheGods/wish/970778131