TOPICS: SCANDINAVIAN LITERATURE in Fall 2025 (CL2091A)

This survey course explores the rich storytelling traditions of Scandinavia, examining the unique narratives of its individual nations and the shared themes that connect them. From ancient Norse sagas to contemporary fiction, we will delve into works that reflect Nordic landscapes, histories, and social conflicts. Key topics include mythology and religion, the human relationship with nature, and the tension between tradition and modernity. A special focus will be placed on Scandinavia’s legacy of children’s literature, whose content often mirrors the themes above. The course also addresses the challenges of translating and promoting Scandinavian literature internationally, with a look at cultural institutes that are based in Paris. We will visit some of these centers and, additionally, take a study trip to one of the region’s major literary events: the Gothenburg Book Fair (Sweden), Bergen International Literature Festival (Norway), or Reykjavik International Literature Festival (Iceland).

Tentative readings for Fall 2025 include: Egil’s Saga (Iceland, c. 1250), Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen (Denmark, 1835/1849), The Wonderful Adventure of Nils Holgersson by Selma Lagerlof (Sweden, 1907), The Wreath by Sigrid Undset (Norway, 1920), Iceland’s Bell by Haldor Laxness (Iceland, 1944), Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson (Finland, 1957), On the Calculation of Volume by Solvej Balle (Denmark, 2024), and Beasts of the Sea by Ida Turpeinen (Finland, 2025).