Braving the cold, Notre Dame English majors gathered for the first Griffin Faculty & Student lunch of the semester. Hosted by Professor Tim Machan, the group explored historical evidence, imagination, and myth surrounding the presence of Vikings in America.
While there is historical evidence that Vikings briefly settled in Newfoundland, the documentable record of their presence in North America is sparse. Because of this, imagination and fantasy have filled in the historical gaps. Prof. Machan’s discussion focused heavily on “myths and projection, ideas that manufacture their own reality and are no less consequential for doing so.”
The conversation broadened from myth to long-term historical significance. Prof. Machan explained how the Vikings have channeled “nationality, ethnicity, gender, virtue, and valor,” influencing the “amusing and sometimes dangerous fantasies” projected onto their presence. Through the ever-changing American landscape of the past two centuries, the Vikings have remained present in the American imagination, from literature to film, and even to video games.