Week 11: The Eddic Tradition

Euhemerism The reading of myths as misunderstandings of historical events, e.g. Óðinn as a charismatic king who was then understood as a god
Heiti Any circumlocution in Old Norse poetry, e.g. salt for “sea”
Kenning A circumlocution in Old Norse poetry consisting of two nouns: a base word providing a metaphorical substitution, and a determiner clarifying the proper context of the intended concept. Thus goddess of the loom “woman”; horse of the wave “ship”