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Discover what Vikings did when they were at home in this fun medieval history and literature podcast about the Icelandic sagas. Hosted by two medieval literature professors with beards.
Episodes
Thursday Dec 24, 2020
Thursday Dec 24, 2020
A holiday saga for all to enjoy
About Gudmund the Grunch, a very bad boy.
Forgive the bad rhymes and meters offbeat.
We're scholars, not poets, it's just a fun treat.
Music Credits
Intro Music - "Prelude and Action" by Kevin MacLeod (now with sleigh bells)
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4236-prelude-and-action
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Gudmund the Grunch Theme - from "Krampus's Workshop" by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5518-krampus-s-workshop
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Outro Music - "Jólakötturinn" performed by Ragnheiður Gröndal
Wednesday Dec 23, 2020
Wednesday Dec 23, 2020
In this Saga Short, we journey with Auðun of the Westfjords, an Icelander who gives everything he has to purchase a polar bear in Greenland. Why buy a polar bear, you ask? Well, what makes a more impressive gift for a king than a polar bear? In this brilliant and widely anthologized þáttr, Auðun will travel throughout Scandinavia, suffer the pangs of hunger and poverty, visit Rome, survive a debilitating illness, gain the love of a wealthy benefactor, and get the better of a certain hard-minded king. Join us for this holiday gift-giving special as we discuss The Tale of Auðun and the Bear!
When you're finished you might enjoy watching this cute animated version of the story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPEsQGC4T0c
And if you're one of those types that like to peruse some good bibliography:
Antonsson, Haki. "The Construction of Auðunar þáttr Vestfirzka: A Case of Typological Thinking in Early Old Norse Prose." Scandinavian Studies 90, no. 4 (2018): 485-508.
Fichtner, Edward G. “Gift Exchange and Initiation in the ‘Auđunar Þáttr Vestfirzka’.” Scandinavian Studies 51, no. 3 (1979): 249-72.
Miller, William Ian. Audun and the Polar Bear: Luck, Law, and Largess in a Medieval Tale of Risky Business. 1. Vol. 1. Medieval Law and Its Practice. Boston, MA: Brill, 2008.
Pálsson, Hermann, ed. Hrafnkel's Saga: and Other Stories. Translated by Hermann Pálsson. Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin Books, 1971.
There ya go.
Music Credits:
Intro: From “Death Awaits” by Billy Malmstrom
Outro: Snæfinnur Snjókarl by Vilhjálmur Vilhjálmsson
Sunday Nov 15, 2020
Sunday Nov 15, 2020
It's time to put the Saga of Bard the God of Snowfell on trial! Critics and saga enthusiasts are often divided on this one. Where will John and Andy rank Bard's Saga? Who will win Best Bloodshed? Why is Andy suddenly contributing to Nicknames? And which of the heroic figures in this saga will be honored with the title of Thingman? Listen and find out!
Thanks again to Bryan Foust, our guest illustrator for Bard's Saga. We look forward to working with him more in the future. You can find his work here: https://www.instagram.com/skarphedin_illustrator/
And, if you enjoy Saga Thing, we think you'll also enjoy The Maniculum Podcast, which we highlight at the end of this episode. It's available on your favorite podcast app.
Music Credits
Intro Music - "Prelude and Action" by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4236-prelude-and-action
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Snati the Wonder Dog Theme - Original composition by John (vocals) and Elsa (keyboard)
Outro Music - "Stormfront" by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4421-stormfront
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Sunday Oct 25, 2020
Sunday Oct 25, 2020
Before we judge Bard's Saga, we take a short break to speak about this crazy story with our good friend Will Biel, a PhD candidate in Medieval Studies at the University of Connecticut. Will brings his expertise on Bard's Saga, medieval European romance literature, and Dungeons and Dragons to our table for a fascinating discussion. We think you'll enjoy this fun interview!
Sunday Oct 18, 2020
Sunday Oct 18, 2020
In the thrilling conclusion to Bard's Saga, Gest makes his way to the court of King Olaf Tryggvason in Norway. Despite the king's best efforts to convert his Icelandic guest, the son of Bard is reluctant to abandon the old gods. Gest's faith will be tested when he accepts a mission to break into the burial mound of an old Viking called Raknar in Greenland. Along the way, he'll encounter Odin, argue with a priest, battle against 500 undead oarsmen, and wrestle with Raknar himself. Does Gest have what it takes to defeat the devilish draugr? Will the old gods provide the strength he needs to claim the treasure? Or will Gest discover the true power of the Christian god? Find out on this exciting episode of Saga Thing!
Thanks again to Bryan Foust for illustrating Bard's Saga for us. Check out his work on Instagram where he is skarphedin_illustrator.
Music Credits
Intro Music - "Prelude and Action" by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4236-prelude-and-action
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Review Music - "The Royal Vagabond Medley" by Jocker's Dance Orchestra
Outro Music - "Stormfront" by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4421-stormfront
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/