Mundal, Else

Phone: (+47) 55 58 24 23
E-mail: else.mundal@cms.uib.no

Born 1944, Eidså in Sunnmøre. Cand. philol. at the University of Oslo, 1971, reseacher NAVF, 1972–74, research scholar, University of Oslo, 1975–76, dosent of Old Norse philology, University of Oslo, 1977–84, professor of Old Norse philology, University of Oslo, 1985–94, professor of Old Norse philology at the University of Bergen since 1994. Visiting professor at Stofnun Árna Magnússonar, Iceland, 1985, at St. Olaf College, Minnesota, January–February, 1992. Lectures and research visits to several other universities abroad: Uppsala, Stockholm, Gothenburg, Lund, Helsinki, Åbo, Copenhagen, Aarhus, Kiel, Rome, Genua, Minneapolis, Madison, Fargo-Moorhead. Has participated with papers and as invited speaker at a number of international conferences, and has -– together with others – organised national and international conferences and published conference reports. Member of the editorial board of Bryggen Papers (since 1996) and Nordica Bergensia (since 1996), member of the advisory board of Maal og Minne (since 1995). Supervisor of a number of theses in Old Norse philology at ‘hovudfag’ and doctorate level. Member of selection committees for professorships at Oslo 1991 (Icelandic), Bergen 1991 (Old Norse philology), Oslo 1992 (History of religion), Oslo 1992 (Nordic medieval culture), Tromsø 1994 (Old Norse philology). Vice Dean, Faculty of Art, University of Oslo, 1982–84, head of The University Council, University of Oslo, 1991, member of The Research Committee, University of Bergen since 1996, member of the board of The Norwegian Stage School, 1983–84, member of NRC’s Committee for Scholarship in Linguistics and Philology, 1995–97, member of the board of Det Norske Samlaget, 1992–99, member of the board of Kjeldeskriftkommisjonen (Department within The Norwegian Public Record Office, responsible for publications of primary sources), 1993–99. Member of The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

I have published on Old Norse sagas, Eddic and skaldic poetry, Old Norse mythology and religion, legends and cults of saint, on subjects within women’s history, on aspects of the cultural history of Medieval Scandinavia, on Old Norse literature as a historical source and on the relation between Old Norse oral and written culture.

Within the CMS, my main responsibility will be to lead Project 1. In my research I have been occupied with the theories concerning the relationship between Old Norse oral and written literature (Mundal 1977), with the social consequences of the transition to a literate culture, especially for women (Mundal 1983), with oral and literate culture as parallel cultural patterns, and the mutual influence of the two (Mundal 1994). Within Project 1, I want to concentrate on the relationship between oral and literate culture, especially in Iceland and Scandinavia, throughout the Middle Ages. The great differences within this territory (see Project 1) offer an interesting basis for comparative research, within the Nordic region as well as between the northern and eastern periphery and between periphery and centre. Due to the close connection between Projects 1 and 2, I shall also participate in the latter. My earlier research has focused on the impact of Christianisation on Old Norse culture – especially on the position of women – as well as the inheritance from the Old Norse culture in northern Christianity.

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