Etymology and Etiology in Snorri’s Gylfaginning

Abstract

Etymologies and etiologies are widespread literary devices in medieval literacy. It is then not a surprise to find them in Old Norse texts as well. The present thesis will focus on Snorri Sturluson’s Edda, and more specifically on its first part: Gylfaginning. This study will try to identify the functions of etymology and etiology in Snorri’s prose. A particular attention will be given to the formulas used to introduce etymologies, to the extralinguistic narratives used in etiological myths, and their relations with causal markers. This essay will also attempt to highlight the role of etymology and etiology as verifying devices used in rhetorical stratagems. Finally through a comparative approach with verse quotation, this thesis will show how etymology and etiology are part of a broader verification network used by Snorri to create an indisputable narrative.