Ælfric’s De falsis diis : a source-analogue study with editions and translations [thesis]

This dissertation offers a detailed source-analogue study of Ælfric's Old English homily De falsis diis and reevaluates its relationship to Martin of Braga's sixth century Latin sermon Pro castigatione rusticorum, and the later Icelandic work Um Þat hvaðan otrú hófst, preserved in the late thirteenth century Hauksbók. Although scholars have long recognized the parallels between these three sermons, no one has compared the full texts to determine their exact relationship. Previous scholarship focused on the undeniable similarities of each author's discussion of the classical pantheon; however, a detailed comparison reveals differences between each text which suggest fundamentally different motives for each successive adaptation of the sermon. Martin uses his sermon to combat entrenched pagan superstitions among a recently converted population. He condemns popular superstitious practices and reinforces orthodox beliefs in baptism. Ælfric, on the other hand, does not address specific superstitious survivals. Instead, he presents an antithetical definition of the true God through a series of stories illustrating God's triumph over false religions. The Old Norse homilist relies heavily on Ælfric; but despite the remarkable parallels and verbal echoes, his alterations present an overview of fundamental stories in religious history similar to Augustine's recommendations in De catechizandis rudibus. Since the three homilies have never appeared together in the same edition, and the Old English and Old Norse have never been fully translated, I offer editions and translations of each, as well as an Old Norse glossary. I also augment the Latin edition by incorporating A. M. Kurfess's 1955 emendations. Such an edition of the sermons allows a comprehensive comparison of all three works.