Discovering Border Crossings in Pagan Epic Literature

• Main Author: Bland, Marian Russell
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Digital Commons @ DU 2011
• Subjects: Borders; Celtic; Crossings; Halloween; Norse; Supernatural; College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences; Celtic Studies; Medieval Studies; Scandinavian Studies; Iceland
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/764; https://digitalcommons.du.edu/context/etd/article/1763/viewcontent/Bland_denver_0061D_10384.pdf

This dissertation argues that border crossings were important to the ancient Celts and Norse as evidenced by the vast quantity of occurrences in their literature,and have remained important themes in literature throughout the ages. Border crossings reflect man's fascination with concepts beyond his immediate existence and understanding. His reactions to such inexplicable phenomena have provided inspiration to writers for hundreds of years. The investigation uncovers examples of border crossings in the epic stories captured in the Ulster and Fenian Cycles, TheTáin, The Eddas, and The Mabinogion. Border crossings remain important for modern literary scholars to consider because they have not vanished. Although they are perceived differently, the concepts remain an integral part of our literary heritage. Analysis which implements border crossing themes explored in this work enables critics to employ a new methodology for engaging with literature, enhancing subtleties and observing moods and tones which might otherwise go unnoticed and unappreciated. Man's natural, instinctive continuing curiosity regarding the supernatural and mystery of the unknown provide a continuing thread of border crossing examples. The epics of Ireland, Iceland, and Wales establish the foundation and environment of Otherworld activity for the romance and gothic genres which follow. The beautiful fairy-woman who convinces a mortal to follow her into the Otherworld; the "beheading" game; witches and potions; castles hidden in mists - these themes will be employed by later authors to define the mood and tone in works such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Macbeth, and Dracula. Stories of the supernatural have fascinated mankind since storytelling began and scholarly research in the area of border crossings must begin with the early epics. Pagan stories of border crossings have a very different view of the themes than works written in a Christian environment. This work examines border crossings in the environment where the people actually ...