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Undergraduate Essays by Tamás Reinicke

An overview of the current theories regarding the causes behind the start of the Viking Age. Writ... more An overview of the current theories regarding the causes behind the start of the Viking Age. Written for the Vikings in Europe course in 2018.

A psychological analysis of the Jórvík scene in Egils saga. Written for the Advanced Old Norse co... more A psychological analysis of the Jórvík scene in Egils saga. Written for the Advanced Old Norse course in 2018.

An analysis of the perception and consequences of metal quality in the Viking Age from a material... more An analysis of the perception and consequences of metal quality in the Viking Age from a material culture standpoint. Written as course paper for the From the Bronze Age to the Vikings and Beyond. Archaeological Analysis of Past Technology course at the University of Oslo in 2017.

An analysis of the runic inscription B625 from Bergen, written as qualification paper for the exa... more An analysis of the runic inscription B625 from Bergen, written as qualification paper for the exam of the Runology - Runic Inscriptions of the Middle Ages course at the University of Oslo in 2017.

An overview of the structure and evolution of the social power network in Viking Age Scandinavia.... more An overview of the structure and evolution of the social power network in Viking Age Scandinavia. Written as qualification paper for the exam of the What caused the Viking Age? course at the University of Oslo in 2017.

A comparison and analysis of two futhark inscriptions. Written as qualification paper for the exa... more A comparison and analysis of two futhark inscriptions. Written as qualification paper for the exam of the Runology - General Introduction course at the University of Oslo in 2016.

Kvalifiseringoppgave for trinn 3 eksamen ved Universitetet i Oslo, fra 2016.

Postmodernism proves to be equally elusive whether we try to define it as an era, a cultural cond... more Postmodernism proves to be equally elusive whether we try to define it as an era, a cultural condition, or an artistic movement. Although present from the 1950s or the 1960s – as the definitions, so the temporal boundaries tend to vary –, it reached its high tide in the 1980s. By this time, scholars had enough material for an attempt at the analysis of postmodernism as a cultural phenomenon. This was not without difficulties and differences, as Linda Hutcheon notes in The Politics of Postmodernism, and the result is less than unequivocal. What may be stated with some certainty about postmodernism is that ‘[i]n general terms it takes the form of self-conscious, self-contradictory, self-undermining statement.’ Postmodernism rejects the idea that our institutions and customs are naturally defined, and ‘question[s] from within’.

Language is generally perceived to serve as the fundamental device for the transmission of ideas ... more Language is generally perceived to serve as the fundamental device for the transmission of ideas and information. However, there are circumstances where it ceases to fulfil this primary function, and instead takes on other roles or fails to perform normally. It can serve as an expression of power and a method of control; or it can forsake its users utterly, leaving them unable to establish contact with the surrounding world. In this essay I examine how the commonly held perceptions about language and communication are deconstructed or broken down along the barriers set by culture, gender, or social status. My bases for this are the play Invasion! by Jonas Hassen Khemiri and the novel Barbara by Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen. Although the chronological order would suggest otherwise, I explore Invasion! first in order that certain juxtapositions can be presented in their full strength.

Brennu-Njáls saga, or The Story of Burnt Njáll, is one of the masterpieces of saga literature. De... more Brennu-Njáls saga, or The Story of Burnt Njáll, is one of the masterpieces of saga literature. Describing events occurring between c. 960 and 1020, it probably existed in oral form for over two hundred years before it was first written down in the late thirteenth century. It depicts a convoluted family feud in which the deaths of two characters, Gunnarr Hámundarson and Njáll Þorgeirsson, stand as pivotal moments. Their elongated struggle to overcome the animosity based on reasons alternating between the petty and the crucial is opposed and obstructed by many, including the closest members of their own family. Heather O’Donoghue argues that the women of Njáls saga strive to uphold the old ways of society, as opposed to men, who appear to embrace the changes in social ethics. In this essay, I aim to examine how accurate this assessment of O’Donoghue is by exploring the social background of the feud depicted in Njáls saga, the ways the various characters approach and attempt to resolve said feud, and the legal system within which this takes place.

The legal collection Grágás (‘wild goose’ or ‘grey goose’) has long since held an indeterminate r... more The legal collection Grágás (‘wild goose’ or ‘grey goose’) has long since held an indeterminate reputation. In the world of the sagas, where many of the stories and events are shaped by convoluted legal proceedings and court cases, a comprehensive corpus of coeval code would be of invaluable help to the scholars. However, despite all the emphasis the literal sources place on the importance of the law in early medieval Iceland, our knowledge about it is fragmentary and the historical sources supporting said knowledge are scarce. This is partly due to the relatively late arrival of the writing tradition to Iceland in the eleventh century, and partly to the presumable loss of manuscript material. In this essay I examine the sources on the law-forming processes in early medieval Iceland, analyse the Grágás collection in the form we know it, and attempt to determine its usefulness and credibility as a historical source.

An analysis of the various depictions of the Norse mythological figure Óðinn in the works of Neil... more An analysis of the various depictions of the Norse mythological figure Óðinn in the works of Neil Gaiman. Written for the 'Vikings and Valkyries in Contemporary Culture' course in 2016.

A brief analysis of marginalia appearing in Icelandic manuscripts that has no direct connection w... more A brief analysis of marginalia appearing in Icelandic manuscripts that has no direct connection with the main text. Written for the 'From Codex to Kindle' course in 2016.

A presentation of the Jelling monument complex, the archaeological works conducted there, and som... more A presentation of the Jelling monument complex, the archaeological works conducted there, and some related scholarly theories. Written for the 'Viking-Age Scandinavia' course in 2016.

An essay regarding museum objects and the 'socialised relationships and interactions' available f... more An essay regarding museum objects and the 'socialised relationships and interactions' available for them in their modern environment. Written for the 'Vikings and Material Culture' course in 2015.

An essay on the various appearances and roles of trolls in Norwegian folklore, literature and cul... more An essay on the various appearances and roles of trolls in Norwegian folklore, literature and culture, based on the folktales collected by Asbjørsen and Moe, Ibsen's 'Peer Gynt', and André Øvredal's 'Trolljegeren'. Written for the 'Nordic Storytelling' course in 2015.

An overview of the history of metal music and the development of its sub-genres, with a special i... more An overview of the history of metal music and the development of its sub-genres, with a special interest in the Scandinavian scene. Written for the 'Histories and Cultures of the Nordic Region' course in 2015.

The analysis of a whalebone plaque currently in the British Museum under museum number 1891,1021.... more The analysis of a whalebone plaque currently in the British Museum under museum number 1891,1021.67. Written for the 'Vikings and Material Culture' course in 2015.

An essay analysing the representation and role of transformation in folktales, using 'animal groo... more An essay analysing the representation and role of transformation in folktales, using 'animal groom' and animal bride' stories. Written for the 'Nordic Storytelling' course in 2015.

An essay comparing the foreign influences of two documents of Norwegian cultural importance: the ... more An essay comparing the foreign influences of two documents of Norwegian cultural importance: the Strengleikar collection and the Constitution of 1814. Written for the 'Histories and Cultures of the Nordic Region' course in 2015.

An overview of the current theories regarding the causes behind the start of the Viking Age. Writ... more An overview of the current theories regarding the causes behind the start of the Viking Age. Written for the Vikings in Europe course in 2018.

A psychological analysis of the Jórvík scene in Egils saga. Written for the Advanced Old Norse co... more A psychological analysis of the Jórvík scene in Egils saga. Written for the Advanced Old Norse course in 2018.

An analysis of the perception and consequences of metal quality in the Viking Age from a material... more An analysis of the perception and consequences of metal quality in the Viking Age from a material culture standpoint. Written as course paper for the From the Bronze Age to the Vikings and Beyond. Archaeological Analysis of Past Technology course at the University of Oslo in 2017.

An analysis of the runic inscription B625 from Bergen, written as qualification paper for the exa... more An analysis of the runic inscription B625 from Bergen, written as qualification paper for the exam of the Runology - Runic Inscriptions of the Middle Ages course at the University of Oslo in 2017.

An overview of the structure and evolution of the social power network in Viking Age Scandinavia.... more An overview of the structure and evolution of the social power network in Viking Age Scandinavia. Written as qualification paper for the exam of the What caused the Viking Age? course at the University of Oslo in 2017.

A comparison and analysis of two futhark inscriptions. Written as qualification paper for the exa... more A comparison and analysis of two futhark inscriptions. Written as qualification paper for the exam of the Runology - General Introduction course at the University of Oslo in 2016.

Kvalifiseringoppgave for trinn 3 eksamen ved Universitetet i Oslo, fra 2016.

Postmodernism proves to be equally elusive whether we try to define it as an era, a cultural cond... more Postmodernism proves to be equally elusive whether we try to define it as an era, a cultural condition, or an artistic movement. Although present from the 1950s or the 1960s – as the definitions, so the temporal boundaries tend to vary –, it reached its high tide in the 1980s. By this time, scholars had enough material for an attempt at the analysis of postmodernism as a cultural phenomenon. This was not without difficulties and differences, as Linda Hutcheon notes in The Politics of Postmodernism, and the result is less than unequivocal. What may be stated with some certainty about postmodernism is that ‘[i]n general terms it takes the form of self-conscious, self-contradictory, self-undermining statement.’ Postmodernism rejects the idea that our institutions and customs are naturally defined, and ‘question[s] from within’.

Language is generally perceived to serve as the fundamental device for the transmission of ideas ... more Language is generally perceived to serve as the fundamental device for the transmission of ideas and information. However, there are circumstances where it ceases to fulfil this primary function, and instead takes on other roles or fails to perform normally. It can serve as an expression of power and a method of control; or it can forsake its users utterly, leaving them unable to establish contact with the surrounding world. In this essay I examine how the commonly held perceptions about language and communication are deconstructed or broken down along the barriers set by culture, gender, or social status. My bases for this are the play Invasion! by Jonas Hassen Khemiri and the novel Barbara by Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen. Although the chronological order would suggest otherwise, I explore Invasion! first in order that certain juxtapositions can be presented in their full strength.

Brennu-Njáls saga, or The Story of Burnt Njáll, is one of the masterpieces of saga literature. De... more Brennu-Njáls saga, or The Story of Burnt Njáll, is one of the masterpieces of saga literature. Describing events occurring between c. 960 and 1020, it probably existed in oral form for over two hundred years before it was first written down in the late thirteenth century. It depicts a convoluted family feud in which the deaths of two characters, Gunnarr Hámundarson and Njáll Þorgeirsson, stand as pivotal moments. Their elongated struggle to overcome the animosity based on reasons alternating between the petty and the crucial is opposed and obstructed by many, including the closest members of their own family. Heather O’Donoghue argues that the women of Njáls saga strive to uphold the old ways of society, as opposed to men, who appear to embrace the changes in social ethics. In this essay, I aim to examine how accurate this assessment of O’Donoghue is by exploring the social background of the feud depicted in Njáls saga, the ways the various characters approach and attempt to resolve said feud, and the legal system within which this takes place.

The legal collection Grágás (‘wild goose’ or ‘grey goose’) has long since held an indeterminate r... more The legal collection Grágás (‘wild goose’ or ‘grey goose’) has long since held an indeterminate reputation. In the world of the sagas, where many of the stories and events are shaped by convoluted legal proceedings and court cases, a comprehensive corpus of coeval code would be of invaluable help to the scholars. However, despite all the emphasis the literal sources place on the importance of the law in early medieval Iceland, our knowledge about it is fragmentary and the historical sources supporting said knowledge are scarce. This is partly due to the relatively late arrival of the writing tradition to Iceland in the eleventh century, and partly to the presumable loss of manuscript material. In this essay I examine the sources on the law-forming processes in early medieval Iceland, analyse the Grágás collection in the form we know it, and attempt to determine its usefulness and credibility as a historical source.

An analysis of the various depictions of the Norse mythological figure Óðinn in the works of Neil... more An analysis of the various depictions of the Norse mythological figure Óðinn in the works of Neil Gaiman. Written for the 'Vikings and Valkyries in Contemporary Culture' course in 2016.

A brief analysis of marginalia appearing in Icelandic manuscripts that has no direct connection w... more A brief analysis of marginalia appearing in Icelandic manuscripts that has no direct connection with the main text. Written for the 'From Codex to Kindle' course in 2016.

A presentation of the Jelling monument complex, the archaeological works conducted there, and som... more A presentation of the Jelling monument complex, the archaeological works conducted there, and some related scholarly theories. Written for the 'Viking-Age Scandinavia' course in 2016.

An essay regarding museum objects and the 'socialised relationships and interactions' available f... more An essay regarding museum objects and the 'socialised relationships and interactions' available for them in their modern environment. Written for the 'Vikings and Material Culture' course in 2015.

An essay on the various appearances and roles of trolls in Norwegian folklore, literature and cul... more An essay on the various appearances and roles of trolls in Norwegian folklore, literature and culture, based on the folktales collected by Asbjørsen and Moe, Ibsen's 'Peer Gynt', and André Øvredal's 'Trolljegeren'. Written for the 'Nordic Storytelling' course in 2015.

An overview of the history of metal music and the development of its sub-genres, with a special i... more An overview of the history of metal music and the development of its sub-genres, with a special interest in the Scandinavian scene. Written for the 'Histories and Cultures of the Nordic Region' course in 2015.

The analysis of a whalebone plaque currently in the British Museum under museum number 1891,1021.... more The analysis of a whalebone plaque currently in the British Museum under museum number 1891,1021.67. Written for the 'Vikings and Material Culture' course in 2015.

An essay analysing the representation and role of transformation in folktales, using 'animal groo... more An essay analysing the representation and role of transformation in folktales, using 'animal groom' and animal bride' stories. Written for the 'Nordic Storytelling' course in 2015.

An essay comparing the foreign influences of two documents of Norwegian cultural importance: the ... more An essay comparing the foreign influences of two documents of Norwegian cultural importance: the Strengleikar collection and the Constitution of 1814. Written for the 'Histories and Cultures of the Nordic Region' course in 2015.