The strand on ‘Bodies and Senses in the Scandinavian Middle Ages’ seeks to introduce a novel perspective into the study of Old Norse literature, one especially of interest as a point of comparison with other medieval and antique literatures: for example, how are heroic or legendary bodies described and staged? What is the role of olfactory, gustatory, auditory, haptic, visual experience in literature? Discussion of what new modes of cultural analysis can bring to the themes of the body, soul, senses and emotions in Old Norse culture and texts would also be a desirable element of this strand.