The aim of this project is to investigate the representation of the elements (air, water, earth, fire, and time) in Old Norse literature and discuss their role as narratological and metaphorical tools highlighting the interplay between natural, bodily, cultural and socio-political aspects of various Old Norse cognitive ecologies. A main questions that will be discussed is whether the agency and emotionality of the elements differ in the pre-Christian as opposed to the Christian cognitive ecology, as presented by various Old Norse sources. The project will result in individual papers and articles on Air, Water, Earth, Fire, and Time, to be presented at the project’s annual conferences (and other seminars and conferences) and to be published with various journals or in relevant special issues.
Presentations of the project
2026
- Eriksen, S.G. (2026): ‘Air in Old Norse Literature: Cultural and Ecological Connotations,’ Mediaevistik 39 (2026): 109‒140
- Eriksen, S.G., (2026): Minds, Cognitive Ecologies and Old Norse Literature, Palgrave McMillan.
- Eriksen, Stefka G. (Jan 2026): "Eco-emotions and the Elements in Old Norse Literature," guest lecture for the Scottish Society for Northern Studies.
- Eriksen, Stefka G. (March 2026): "Man and Nature in Alexanders saga: literature, politics and ecology intertwined", keynote at the 5th Oslo Student Conference on Medieval Europe, 12-14. March 2026, Close Encounters.
- Eriksen, S.G. (March 2026): The keynote "Man and Nature in Alexanders saga: literature, politics and ecology intertwined," presented at 5th Oslo Student Conference on Medieval Europe, 12-14. March 2026, Close Encounters.
- Eriksen, S.G. (April 2026): The paper "Why did Haukr Erlendsson write and read literature?: mentalizing with Hauksbók," presented at ‘Literature and Law’ seminar at University of Berkeley, invited by Jonas Wellendorf.
- Eriksen, S.G. (July 2026): The paper ‘Writing, Performing and Solving Nature Riddles in Old Norse Literature and Manuscripts,’ presented at Cognitive Futures in the Arts and Humanities, Lisboa.
- Eriksen, S.G. (July 2026): The paper "The Fifth Element in Snorra Edda: on the Elements and Time in Old Norse Culture," presented at Leeds Medieval Congress.
- Eriksen, S.G. (Sept 2026): Keynote at workshop "Feeling Otherwise: Nonhuman Affect, Sensation, and Cognition' Becoming Axolotl: Empathy, Simulation, and Embodiment in Medieval Narratives," invited by PI Catalin Taranu.
- Eriksen, S.G. (Sept 2026): The paper "The extended energy of earth in Old Norse literature," presented at Eco-Emotions on Earth-conference, University of Oslo.
2025
- Eriksen, Stefka G. (February 2025): “The Body as a Model for Natural, Cosmological, Religious and Socio-political Systems,” presented at the workshop “Law and the Body,” University of Leicester, UK.
- Eriksen, Stefka G. (April 2025): “Eco-emotions and the Elements in Old Norse Literature,” presented at “Forum for Medieval Comparative Studies,” Paris, France.
- Eriksen, Stefka G. (May 2025): “Eco-emotions and the Elements in Old Norse Literature,” presented at “Medieval seminar,” University of Stockholm, Sweden.
- Eriksen, Stefka G. (June 2025): “Cognitive Approaches to Emotions,” presented at “Old Norse Emotion Network,” Reykjavík, Iceland.
- Eriksen, Stefka G. (June 2025): “Deltas, Settlements, and Old Norse Cognitive Ecologies,” presented at the workshop “Deltas of Change: Keywords for Living Together,” organized by Michael Lundblad (EcoLit, UiO), Francesca Tarocco (NICHE, Ca’Foscari), and Franz Krause (MESH, Cologne).
- Eriksen, Stefka G. (August 2025): “Nature, the Prince of Darkness, and the Arrogance of Man in Alexanders saga,” presented at “The International Saga Conference,” Katowice, Poland.
2024
- Eriksen, Stefka G., Mills, Kristen May (August 2024): “Emotions and Silence,” presented at “Seminar on Emotions and Old Norse studies,” organized by Gareth Evans, University of Oxford, UK.
- Eriksen, Stefka G. (May 2024): “Old Norse Climate fiction,” presented at the “Nordic Climate conference,” University of Oslo, Norway.
- Eriksen, Stefka G. (March 2024): Presentation of Eco-Emotions at ILNs research seminar, Oslo, Norway.