OLD NORSE POEMS: All the non-Skaldic verse not contained in the EddasTHE GROUP of poems offered in this volume comprises practically all the more considerable (non-Skaldic) verse material not in the Edda. Indeed, it has been subtitled "the most important non-skaldic verse not included in the poetic edda." It is a supplement to the Edda and it shows, even better than that remarkable collection, the wealth of independent poetic inventions and forms that flourished in the Scandinavian North before and immediately after the introduction of Christianity, especially when we bear in mind that much has been irretrievably lost. As to the contents of these poems, with respect to the first group of nine, range from the genuinely "heroic," realistic, dialogic-dramatic, earlier lays (such as the Biarkamol) to the more "romantic," legendary, monologic-elegiac, retrospective, later lays (like Hialmar's Death Song); though the lines of demarcation are by no means sharp and, in fact, nearly every poem represents an individual combination of these traits. A very different type of lay is seen in the three contemporary encomiastic poems which celebrate the life and deeds of the (historic) rulers of Norway-the only non-Skaldic efforts of this genre so exceedingly numerous in Old Norse literature. There is no common denominator for the four poems at the end of the volume, except possibly their arch-heathen character. As a finale the Song of the Sun marks the transition from heathen to Christian spheres of thought. Common to all of this material is its unliterary, that is, unbookish, character which is in marked contrast to virtually all of Anglo-Saxon epic literature, influenced as it is, to a greater or lesser degree, by Christian or classical models. That is to say, we deal here with the genuinely native expression of the North. 33% of the net profit will be donated to charities for educational purposes. Yesterday's Books for Tomorrow's Educations" |
Other editions - View all
Old Norse Poems: The Most Important Non-skaldic Verse Not Included in the ... Lee Milton Hollander No preview available - 1936 |
Common terms and phrases
Angantýr ANGANTÝRsaid Anglo-Saxon Aright guess Ásmund atheling Baldr Bēowulf Biarkamól Biarki bloody Bósi Bragi brother byrnie called Christian curse Danish daughter death deeds Delling’s-door e’er Edda Eddic Eric fain fallen fare father fire Footnotes fornyrthislag Fróthi’s Gautreks saga Gestumblindi Gizur gold Goths Hákon Hákonarmól HÁLF half-stanza Hálf’s hall Haraldskvćthi Harold hate hath Hauksbók heathen Heithrek helmet hero Herrauth Hervarar saga Hervor Hiálmar Hialti Hildibrand Hloth Horthaland housecarls Hóvamól Hrólf Hrút Humli Hunnish Huns Ingiald INNSTEIN kenning for battle king’s land lióthaháttr Lokasenna lord maid maiden málaháttr men’s Norway Old Germanic Old Norse Olrik one’s original Óthin poem poet poetry prose raven rings Rogaland saga sate Saxo Saxo’s Saxon seems shields Skaldic skalds slain slay Song spear speech stanza Starkath sun I saw sword syllables thee thou thy riddle translation Tyrfing Útstein Valholl valkyries verse Víkar Viking Voluspó warriors wend weregild Wīdsīth wounded Yngvi