Welcome to SPACE, our adult continuing education program which offers interactive monthly courses for personal enrichment! Learn more here.
Mixed Lecture/Discussion
•
Low intensity
Note: All Discussion Sessions will be live recorded and shared with all enrolled students afterward for review and to allow those who cannot attend live to still participate in the class.
In the early 10th century, a woman was laid to rest in a lavish ship burial at Oseberg, Norway—one of the richest Viking graves ever discovered. But she was no queen’s consort or mere noblewoman. Her grave goods suggest she was a ruler or religious leader, commanding respect in her own right. In the overtly masculine Old Norse society, women were not simply passive and obedient, sometimes they also found ways to navigate the cultural framework and shape some agency for themselves.
In this class we’ll be moving from the very real, mundane yet essential domain of Norse women – without women’s spinning and weaving the Viking age wouldn’t have existed! – to the more mythical realm of goddesses, Valkyries, spirits, exploring all kinds of social and political roles women would have adopted. Drawing on archaeology, literature, chronicles or laws we’ll attempt to recreate part of the fascinating stories of the great and famous but also forgotten characters that shaped the Viking age and beyond.
The module will follow an 8-session structure as shown below:
In the early 10th century, a woman was laid to rest in a lavish ship burial at Oseberg, Norway—one of the richest Viking graves ever discovered. But she was no queen’s consort or mere noblewoman. Her grave goods suggest she was a ruler or religious leader, commanding respect in her own right. In the overtly masculine Old Norse society, women were not simply passive and obedient, sometimes they also found ways to navigate the cultural framework and shape some agency for themselves.
In this class we’ll be moving from the very real, mundane yet essential domain of Norse women – without women’s spinning and weaving the Viking age wouldn’t have existed! – to the more mythical realm of goddesses, Valkyries, spirits, exploring all kinds of social and political roles women would have adopted. Drawing on archaeology, literature, chronicles or laws we’ll attempt to recreate part of the fascinating stories of the great and famous but also forgotten characters that shaped the Viking age and beyond.
The module will follow an 8-session structure as shown below:
Outline | 8-Session Structure |
---|---|
Week 1 | Lecture 1: The daily life of women: marriage, children, work |
Discussion 1: Discussion about Lecture 1 material | |
Week 2 | Lecture 2: Women and power: queens, avengers, warriors |
Discussion 2: Discussion about Lecture 2 material | |
Week 3 | Lecture 3: The Norse sorceress and prophetess |
Discussion 3: Discussion about Lecture 3 material | |
Week 4 | Lecture 4: Divine images of women /td> |
Discussion 4: Discussion about Lecture 4 material |
Required Texts
Optional reading: J. Jochens, Old Norse Images of Women (Univ. of Pennsylvania Press 1996)
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This will be a Hybrid class (4 lectures & 4 discussion sessions). Each week will consist of 1 hour of recorded lecture and 1 hour of live discussion (not recorded) for a total of 8 class hours over the course of the month.
Delivery Plan
1. The first session each week will be a pre-recorded lecture sent to students at least 2 days before the live discussion session.
2. The second session each week will be a live discussion session (not recorded).
Delivery Plan
1. The first session each week will be a pre-recorded lecture sent to students at least 2 days before the live discussion session.
2. The second session each week will be a live discussion session (not recorded).
Days and Times
Pre-recorded lectures will be supplemented by live meetings Sundays at 12:00 noon Eastern for four 1-hour sessions on August 10, 17, 24, 31
Signum Time US/Eastern |
Note | Your Time unknown |
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Thu, Aug 7
12:00 PM |
Lecture (pre-recorded). NOT LIVE. |
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Sun, Aug 10
12:00 PM |
LIVE DISCUSSION SESSION (recorded just for the class, to support all & those who cannot attend live) |
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Thu, Aug 14
12:00 PM |
Lecture (pre-recorded). NOT LIVE. |
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Sun, Aug 17
12:00 PM |
LIVE DISCUSSION SESSION (recorded just for the class, to support all & those who cannot attend live) |
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Thu, Aug 21
12:00 PM |
Lecture (pre-recorded). NOT LIVE. |
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Sun, Aug 24
12:00 PM |
LIVE DISCUSSION SESSION (recorded just for the class, to support all & those who cannot attend live) |
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Thu, Aug 28
12:00 PM |
Lecture (pre-recorded). NOT LIVE. |
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Sun, Aug 31
12:00 PM |
LIVE DISCUSSION SESSION (recorded just for the class, to support all & those who cannot attend live) |