Full Description
The Poetic Edda comprises a treasure trove of mythic and spiritual verse holding an important place in Nordic culture, literature, and heritage. Its tales of strife and death form a repository, in poetic form, of Norse mythology and heroic lore, embodying both the ethical views and the cultural life of the North during the late heathen and early Christian times.
Collected by an unidentified Icelander, probably during the twelfth or thirteenth century, The Poetic Edda was rediscovered in Iceland in the seventeenth century by Danish scholars. Even then its value as poetry, as a source of historical information, and as a collection of entertaining stories was recognized. This meticulous translation succeeds in reproducing the verse patterns, the rhythm, the mood, and the dignity of the original in a revision that Scandinavian Studies says "may well grace anyone's bookshelf."
Contents
General Introduction
The Prophecy of the Seeress: Voluspá
The Sayings of Hár: Hávamál
The Lay of Vafthrúthnir: Vafthrúthnismál
The Lay of Grímnir: Grímnismál
The Lay of Skírnir: Skírnismál
The Lay of Hárbarth: Hárbarzljóth
The Lay of Hymir: Hymiskvitha
The Flyting of Loki: Lokasenna
The Lay of Thrym: Thrymskvitha
The Lay of Alviís: Alvíssmál
Baldr's Dreams: Baldrs draumar
The Lay of Ríg: Rígsthula
The Lay of Hyndla: Hyndluljóth
The Short Seeress' Prophecy: Voluspá hin skamma
The Lay of Svipdag: Svipdagsmál
The Spell of Gróa: Grógaldr
The Lay of Fjolsvith: Fjolsvinnsmál
The Lay of Grotti: Grottasongr
The Lay of Volund: Volundarkvitha
The Helgi Lays
The Lay of Helgi Hjorvarthsson: Helgakvitha Hjorvarthssonar
The First Lay of Helgi the Hunding-Slayer: Helgakvitha Hundingsbana I
The Second Lay of Helgi the Hunding-Slayer: Helgakvitha Hundingsbana II
Sinfjotli's Death: Frá dautha Sinfjotla
The Prophecy of Grípir: Grípisspá
The Lay of Regin: Reginsmál
The Lay of Fáfnir: Fáfnismál
The Lay of Sigrdrífa: Sigrdrífumál
The Great Lacuna
Fragment of a Sigurth Lay: Brot of Sigurtharkvithu
The First Lay of Guthrún: Guthrúnarkvitha I
The Short Lay of Sigurth: Sigurtharkvitha hin skamma
Brynhild's Ride to Hel: Helreith Brynhildar
The Fall of the Niflungs: Dráp Niflunga
The Second (or Old) Lay of Guthrun: Guthrúnarkvitha II (hin forna)
The Third Lay of Guthrun: Guthrúnarkvitha III
The Plaint of Oddrún: Oddrúnargrátr
The Lay of Atli: Atlakvitha .
The Greenlandish Lay of Atli: Atlamál hin groenlenzku
Guthrun's Lament: Guthrúnarhvat
The Lay of Hamthir: Hamthismál (hin fornu)
The Catalogue of Dwarfs: (Dvergatal)
Guide to Pronunciation
Glossary
Selected Bibliography
Index and List of Names
