Harris, Joseph. Homo Necans Borealis.

• Author: Harris, Joseph
• Title: "Homo Necans Borealis: Fatherhood and Sacrifice in Sonatorrek"
• Published in: Myth in Early Northwest Europe 3
• Year: 2007
• Pages: 153-174
• E-text:
• Reference: Harris, Joseph. "Homo Necans Borealis: Fatherhood and Sacrifice in Sonatorrek". Myth in Early Northwest Europe 3 (2007): 153-174.

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Annotation

After a breakdown of Sonatorrek’s distinct stages of emotion, and its stanza-specific shifts in symbolism and emotional representations, Harris, with reference to Joseph Campbell and Mircea Eliade, argues that a sacred prototype is being following in Sonatorrek. Harris believes the poem most closely parallels the emotional trials of Odin after the death of Baldr, and later presents and bolsters the stance, arguing, “We are safe in hypothesizing that the myth of the death of Baldr served more generally as a cultural model for paternal grief” (159). Harris includes references to Nancy Jay’s work on the fortification of male lineage in patriarchal societies to mark the historical importance Oðinn and Egil’s losses (167-168). Using themes from Sonatorrek, Harris develops his stance on the potential realities of religion, ritual, and mythology surrounding sacrifice in Old Norse society (159, 162), and the spiritual meaning of rebirth in Old Norse culture (166).

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• Written by: Benjamin S. C. Sibley
• Icelandic/English translation: