On December 7th Scott Mellor presented his paper titled Oral-Formula and Formulaic Syntax in The Poetic Edda revisited at The Formula in Oral Poetry and Prose Conference in Tartu, Estonia. The symposium’s aim was to discuss new approaches, models, and interpretations of formulas in traditional poetry and prose. The symposium had a special focus on Old Norse literature, but integrated the research on several different cultures and let the knowledge of and research on them shed light on each other.
Scott’s presentation focused on the intersection between prose and poetry by looking at the heroic material in the Poetic Edda and the Saga of the Volsungs and the comparable mythic patterns and themes that can be found in both.
To learn more about the symposium, presentations, and speakers go to the University of Tartu’s website.