It is from writings such as sturlusons prose edda, for which his chief resources were likely voluspa and grimnismal of the poetic edda, 1 that we know about characteristics of the gods, cosmology, beliefs about the origin of the world, humans, and gods, as well as beliefs about different afterlives. In it, he shows the readers how to write eddic poetry. The text is of interest to modern readers because it contains consistent narratives of many of. This treatise on norse poetics was written in the thirteenth century by the icelandic scholar and politician. In prose interspersed with powerful verse, the edda shows the. The prose edda is the most renowned of all works of scandinavian literature and our most extensive source for norse mythology. Jul 31, 2006 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. It is an prose edda is a work without predecessor or parallel. Actually, you can check out the myth right here at shmoop, but well give you a quick summary anyway. An introduction to the poetic or elder edda, the most important surviving source of norse mythology, and the difference between it and snorri sturlusons prose or younger edda. May 22, 2011 translations are very scarce and typically come from only a couple sources. These amazing texts from a thirteenthcentury icelandic manuscript are of huge historical, mythological, and.
The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 180 pages and is available in paperback format. The first edition of the novel was published in 1220, and was written by snorri sturluson. The prose eddas stories were based on the oral tradition from the viking golden age 800. Its tales are peopled by giants, dwarves, and elves, superhuman heroes and indomitable warrior queens. The poems of the poetic edda have waited a long time for a modern english translation that would do them justice. What are the best translations of the prose edda by snorri. I was all excited to do the collaborativefolkloresocial mediasnarkfest redux and boom. Poetic edda is the modern attribution for an unnamed collection of old norse anonymous poems, which is different from the edda written by snorri sturluson. The younger edda, also known as snorres edda, or the prose edda, is a collection of old norse poems preserved by snorri sturluson 11791241. Along with the elder or poetic edda written by an unknown poet a halfcentury earlier, the prose edda is a major source of much older norse mythology as it had evolved. The prose edda, also known as the younger edda, snorris edda icelandic. The prose edda was written by the icelandic chieftain, poet, and historian snorri sturluson, probably in 122223. Poetic edda was translated by henry adams bellows in 1936. In edda books commonly distinguished as the prose, or younger, edda and the poetic, or elder, edda.
Neil gaimans norse mythology is a streamlining of the ancient sources in order that he can tell a tale that works for a modern audience. The prose edda and poetic edda have some stories in common but generally its better to read the prose first. The elder edda is poetry, while the younger edda is mainly prose. What is the difference between the poetic edda and prose. A similar combination of scholarly and imaginative talent is seen in the prose edda c. The prose edda by snorri sturluson, paperback barnes. Odin and his brothers, vili and ve slay the giant ymir and use his blood and bones to fashion the world and its inhabitants. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The prose edda s stories were based on the oral tradition from the viking golden age 800. Jul 28, 2005 the prose edda is the most renowned of all works of scandinavian literature and our most extensive source for norse mythology. Sep 10, 2019 neil gaimans norse mythology is a streamlining of the ancient sources in order that he can tell a tale that works for a modern audience. The main characters of this classics, history story are. It is worthwhile to note that the term prose was only attached to the prose edda to distinguish it from the poetic edda. It is both a book of poetry and a sort of instruction manual, or treatise, on poetry.
The prose edda written in iceland a century after the close of the viking age, the prose edda is the source of most of what we know of norse mythology. Also called snorres edda, or the prose edda by snorri sturluson free ebook project gutenberg. Free download or read online the prose edda pdf epub book. The prose edda, also known as the younger edda, snorris edda or simply edda, is an old norse work of literature written in iceland in the early th century. Brodeur, published by the americanscandinavian foundation in 1916. The work is often assumed to have been written, or at least compiled, by the icelandic scholar, lawspeaker, and historian snorri sturluson c. Scandinavian literary sources the most memorable was his prose edda. Together with the poetic edda, it comprises the major store of scandinavian mythology. For the prose edda, these two english translations are equally acceptable. 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.
The poetic edda edda means poetics is an icelandic compilation made around 1270. The most renowned of all works of scandinavian literature and our most extensive source of norse mythology. Not because this version of the norse cosmology is too good to invite commentary but because it is completely bereft of the joy, absurdity, humor, sex, and shenanigans which make the poetic edda such a rollicking good journey through mythology and culture. They are probably very similar, with slight difference in the word choice, such as the choice between poetic and prose in the titles. The poetic edda comprises a treasure trove of mythic and spiritual verse holding an important place in nordic culture, literature, and heritage. This book is called edda, which snorri sturluson composed. Snorri sturluson feared that the traditional techniques of norse poetics, the pagan kennings, and the allusions to mythology would be forgotten with the introduction of new. Still kept in reykjavik, larrington describes it as an unprepossessinglylooking codex the size of. An old norse specialist explains the difference between the poetic or elder edda and the prose or younger edda, which are often confused. The poems originated in iceland, norway, and greenland between the ninth and th centuries, when they were compiled in a unique manuscript known as the codex. Also known as the younger edda or snorris edda, the prose edda is a threepart work composed or at least compiled by thirteenthcentury icelandic scholar snorri sturluson. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Written in iceland a century after the close of the viking age, it tells ancient stories of the norse creation epic and recounts the battles that follow as gods, giants, dwarves and elves struggle for survival. Sturlusons edda is an interesting book because it is like a technical manual in story form.
The prose edda forms the basis of what the world knows as norse mythology, and contains legends of the creation of the cosmos and the bestknown stories of odin, thor, and the other gods. Translated by arthur gilchrist brodeur 1916 the prose edda is a text on old norse poetics, written about 1200 by the icelandic poet and politican snorri sturlson, who also wrote the heimskringla. I would recommend reading the byock translation of the prose edda first, then the byock translation of the volsunga saga, then the poetic edda. It is the fullest and most detailed source for modern knowledge of germanic mythology. The prose edda of snorri sturlson translated by arthur gilchrist brodeur 1916 the prose edda is a text on old norse poetics, written about 1200 by the norwegian poet and politican snorri sturlson, who also wrote the heimskringla. What is the difference between the prose edda and the poetic. Written in iceland a century after the close of the viking age, the prose edda tells ancient stories of the norse creation epic and recounts the battles that follow as gods, giants, dwarves and elves struggle for survival. Voluspa, vafthrudnismol, grimnismol, skirnismol, harbardsljod, hymiskvitha, thrymskvitha, and lokasenna. It was originally written down in approximately 1220 by snorri sturluson 1178. The codex regius is arguably the most important extant source on norse mythology and germanic heroic. Anthony faulkes, copenhagen 1985 early icelandic manuscripts in facsimile xv. Which is better, the prose edda or norse mythology by neil. The poetic and prose eddas are ancient norse texts containing information about the origins of the universe according to norse mythology. Prose edda was translated byarthur gilchrist brodeur in 1916.
The younger edda contains the systematized theogony and cosmogony of our forefathers, while the elder edda presents the odinic faith in a 28 series of lays or rhapsodies. There are satisfactory translations in norwegian and swedish probably more so than in english. This work, well known as the prose edda, snorris edda or the p. The prose edda, volume 5 volume 5 of scandinavian classics the prose edda, arthur gilchrist brodeur. Oct 30, 2017 it is from writings such as sturlusons prose edda, for which his chief resources were likely voluspa and grimnismal of the poetic edda, 1 that we know about characteristics of the gods, cosmology, beliefs about the origin of the world, humans, and gods, as well as beliefs about different afterlives. The prose edda is a text on old norse poetics, written about 1200 by the icelandic poet and politican snorri sturlson, who also wrote the heimskringla. The prose edda was originally referred to as simply edda, but was later titled the prose edda in modern collections to distinguish it from the collections titled poetic edda that are largely based on codex regius, a collection of poetry composed after edda in th century iceland. The poetic edda index internet sacred text archive. Edda, body of ancient icelandic literature contained in two thcentury books commonly distinguished as the prose, or younger, edda and the poetic, or elder, edda. Among the prose old norse sources, the prose edda, or simply the edda, contains the greatest quantity of information concerning our topic. Snorris prose edda was written in response to these new trends as a handbook for those aspiring icelandic skalds poets who wanted to master the traditional forms of verse and the older stories essential to the imagery of old norse poetry xi. Snorra edda or, historically, simply as edda, is an old norse work of literature written in iceland during the early th century. Translations are very scarce and typically come from only a couple sources.
What are the best translations of the prose edda by. The poetic edda is likely the single most important of all of our sources. The prose edda, or the younger edda, is a historical icelandic document of great importance. Prose edda was designed as a handbook for poets to compose in the style of the skalds of the viking ages.
The prose edda is one of the sources that he draws upon. In it, snorri references the 3rd stanza of voluspa, the most famous poem of the poetic edda that details the mythological. Also known as the younger edda or snorris edda, the prose edda is a threepart work. Her translation is direct and does not attempt to be poetic itself. From eddic poetry by terry gunnell in a companion to oldicelandic literature and culture, edited by rory mcturk, 2005.
These amazing texts from a thirteenthcentury icelandic manuscript are of huge historical, mythological, and literary importance, containing the lions share of information that survives today about the gods and heroes. The great poetic tradition of prechristian scandinavia is known to us almost exclusively though the prose edda, a collection of narrative literature, and its companion, the poetic edda. Still kept in reykjavik, larrington describes it as an unprepossessinglylooking codex the size of a fat paperback. In short, this book was not an easy or even enjoyable read. The prose edda contains a wide variety of lore which a skald poet of the time would need to know. Several versions exist, all primarily of text from the icelandic medieval manuscript known as the codex regius, which contains 31 poems. Intended to be a handbook in skaldic poetry, it preserves invaluable mythological tales that were on the verge of being forgotten even in sturlusons time. The younger edda may in one sense be regarded as the sequel or commentary of the elder edda.
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