Abstract
Woden, alongside his Norse complement Óðinn, is a figure that has continued to fascinate and persist within England’s cultural consciousness. In this thesis, the multifaceted nature of Woden’s usage post-Conversion will be examined, paying close attention first to his function as legendary forefather, whose resonances with kingship have enabled those descended from him, as evidenced in Old English genealogical material, a strengthened legitimacy to rule. This association with kingship will also be applied to instances in which English placenames derive their name from the god, such as Wansdyke (‘Woden’s Dyke’) in Somerset and Wiltshire. Woden’s more devilish byname of Grim will likewise be considered, both in relation to placename studies, but also in English folklore, specifically the Church Grim, and finally in the character of Grim the fisherman in the thirteenth century romance Havelok the Dane. Through his guise of Grim, the adaptability of Woden’s remembrance in England can thus be emphasised. Indeed, by considering several fields of study in dialogue, this thesis aims to stress that the survival of Woden in England’s cultural memory owes much to his inherent malleability.