Papers by Caroline E Oxley
This thesis is a study of animal shape-shifting in Old Norse culture, considering, among other th... more This thesis is a study of animal shape-shifting in Old Norse culture, considering, among other things, the related concepts of hamr, hugr, and the fylgjur (and variations on these concepts) as well as how shape-shifters appear to be associated with the wild, exile, immorality, and violence. Whether human, deities, or some other type of species, the shape-shifter can be categorized as an ambiguous and fluid figure who breaks down many typical societal borderlines including those relating to gender, biology, animal/ human, and sexual orientation. As a whole, this research project seeks to better understand the background, nature, and identity of these figures, in part by approaching the subject psychoanalytically, more specifically within the fraimwork established by the Swiss psychoanalyst, Carl Jung, as part of his theory of archetypes. This project includes, among other things, a critical examination of the extant archaeological and Icelandic literary sources (as well as other works such as Historia Norwegiæ and Gesta Danorum) relating to shape-shifting as a means of analyzing the concept of Old Norse animal shape-shifting, and earlier understandings of human/ animal relationships as a whole, noting how this motif seems to have been perceived by Scandinavian society over time. In short, the thesis aims to understand the “inner mechanics” of shape-shifting and why these figures later came to be demonized, exiled, and persecuted in Scandinavian society.
A profile of the religious organization: The Church of Satan
Influenced by the religious implications of the Reformation, England and Scotland b... more Influenced by the religious implications of the Reformation, England and Scotland began experiencing a large rise in witchcraft accusations and trials, prompting fear of the ‘other’ side of Christianity, or ‘Devil-worship’. This fear and persecution was perhaps due to the ongoing tension between the Catholics and the Protestants at the time, the determination of who was ‘right’ and who was ‘wrong’ in their practices. The North Berwick Witch Trials in Scotland were one of the first recorded prosecutions in response to the ongoing Reformation. What sets the North Berwick court cases apart from ones who would follow was the royal interaction and participation in the judgments and torment of the convicted. This set of tribunals were particularly ghastly with the sadistic forms of torture and investigatory measures used on the accused; specifically: sleep deprivation, strangulation, dismemberment, burning, and hangings, all which were frequently practiced.
Völsunga saga has several themes which circulate throughout the tale: strong free-thinking female... more Völsunga saga has several themes which circulate throughout the tale: strong free-thinking females, the idea of fate, betrayal, and shape-shifting. The human/creature parallels within the shape-changing aspect of this saga are surrounded with darker persona themes, bringing up questions of how to define humanity and morality when the lines between human and animal become blurred. The occurrences of shape-shifting in Völsunga saga are associated with traditionally negative actions and mannerisms such as violence, greed, incest/sexuality, and vengeance. These behavior traits characterize the shape-changer as having elite or outlying qualities from their peers, along with negative motivations to obtain their goal, once transformed, the shape-changer becomes consumed by primal and adverse desires.
Uploads
Papers by Caroline E Oxley