Helte og kujoner til jættegilder

Fest og maskulinitet i norrøne myter

Resumé

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this article is to explore the relationship between Old Norse feasts and gender. Following Michael Dietler’s claim that examinations of gender offer insights into the practices of feasts of a given culture and vice versa, I analyse two Old Norse myths that both depict the god Thor attending feasts hosted by giants. I argue that Old Norse feasts were domains where relations were regulated and maintained, and where everyday norms were transgressed in order to strengthen and maintain society. In both myths, masculinities in particular are challenged and transformed. I apply gender theories by R. W. Connell and Judith Butler to analyse how transformations of masculinity provide insights into the established gender order of Old Norse society.

DANSK RESUMÉ: Formålet med denne artikel er at undersøge forholdet mellem norrøne fester og køn. Inspireret af Michael Dietlers påstand om at studier af kønsforestillinger tilbyder indsigter i en given kulturs festpraksisser og omvendt, analyserer jeg to norrøne myter om guden Thor der indebærer hans deltagelse i jættefester. Jeg argumenterer for at norrøne fester var domæner hvor dominans blev reguleret og opretholdt, og hvor hverdagens normer blev overskredet for at styrke og opretholde samfundet. I begge myter bliver især maskuliniteter udfordret og transformeret ved festerne. Jeg anvender kønsteorier af R. W. Connell og Judith Butler i min analyse af hvordan transformationer af maskulinitet tilbyder indsigt i den etablerede kønsorden i det norrøne samfund.