Translations into latin, french and english were enthusiastically received by a public eager to construct a sense of its own legendary past. None of the poems can be dated with any certainty, but it is clear that many of the heroic poems go back to the lore of the 6th and 7th centuries. Prose edda definition of prose edda by the free dictionary. The icelandic scholar, au thor, and politician snorri sturluson wrote the work as a textbook on the art of skaldic verse. From a personal standpoint, i feel that the poetic edda is similar to classical work such as the homeric hymns which are more formal and have a religious context. English source for the bellows translation comes from. Odin and his brothers, vili and ve slay the giant ymir and use his blood and bones to fashion the world and its inhabitants.
Thegither wi the poetic edda, it comprises the major store o scandinavie meethology. The prose edda of snorri sturlson, translated by arthur. These amazing texts from a thirteenthcentury icelandic manuscript are of huge historical, mythological, and. Scandinavian literary sources the most memorable was his prose edda. The wirk is eften assumed tae hae been written, or at least compiled, bi the icelandic scholar an historian snorri sturluson aroond. Its contents had been considered so inflammatory that it was hidden away for around 400 years before anyone dared show it to a member of the clergy. Have you ever read the prose edda or the poetic edda. 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. I dont mean toned down as in content, but toned down as in the wording is less archaic. In the prose, or younger, edda, elves were classified as light elves who were fair and dark elves who were darker than pitch. The prose edda is related to the poetic edda in that the prose edda cites various poems collected in the poetic edda as sources.
Snorris prose edda survived for a different reason. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The notable characteristics of elves were mischief and volatility. The prose edda, also known as the younger edda, snorris edda icelandic. I read the prose edda so you dont have to wonder how odin ended up being from troy. One of his major works, originally titled edda, which is today commonly re ferred to as the snorra edda or prose edda in order to distinguish it from the poetic edda, originated around a. It is composed of the prologue and the gylfaginning, or the tricking of gylfi c. The poetic edda, translated by henry adams bellows. The poetic edd a unlike the prose edda has no known author or compiler. It is generally believed that none of the poems were actually composed in their. The poetic eddas are the oral literature of iceland, which were finally written down from to 0 c. They are probably very similar, with slight difference in the word choice, such as the choice between poetic and prose in the titles. There are satisfactory translations in norwegian and swedish probably more so than in english.
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. It is the fullest and most detailed source for modern knowledge of germanic mythology. Back to the bishopwhen he discovered what he called the prose edda, he deduced that sturluson quoted in the text poems that could no longer be. It is worthwhile to note that the term prose was only attached to the prose edda to distinguish it from the poetic edda. The music podcast from two best buds think millennial artist spotlight hosted by brandon bearden music for the prose featured software all software latest this just in old school emulation msdos games historical software classic pc games software library. It also contains the skaldskaparmal and the hattatal.
Probably the first and second lines had originally nothing to do with the third and fourth, the last two not referring to host or guest, but to the general danger of backing ones views with the sword. They are probably very similar, with slight difference in the word choice, such as the choice between poetic and prose in. The poems of the poetic edda were probably compiled by saemundr sigfusson in the 12th century in iceland. Old norse source for the poetic edda comes from heimskringla. Both were presumed to be written in iceland around the th century. 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. Voluspa norse and germanic lore site with old norse. I read the prose edda so you dont have to wonder how odin. There are a few theories about where the word edda came from. 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. Gratis poetic edda and prose edda pdf piu popolare.
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. Jun 27, 2011 both are translations of the same text. Along with snorri sturlusons prose edda, the poetic edda is the most important extant source on. The younger edda, also known as snorres edda, or the prose edda, is a collection of old norse poems preserved by snorri sturluson 11791241. What are the best translations of the prose edda by. For the prose edda, these two english translations are equally acceptable. The work is often assumed to have been written, or at least compiled, by the icelandic scholar, lawspeaker, and historian snorri sturluson c. Most popular norse mythology is based on these works. There is a old norse poetic edda and prose edda, both of which were written down in iceland during the th century in icelandic, although they contain material from earlier traditional sources, reaching into the viking age or further. Actually, you can check out the myth right here at shmoop, but well give you a quick summary anyway. Edda, body of ancient icelandic literature contained in two thcentury books commonly distinguished as the prose, or younger, edda and the poetic, or elder. The prose or younger edda dates to circa 1220 ce and was compiled by snorri sturluson, an icelandic poet and historian. Codex regius is the most important manuscript of eddic poetry.
Snorra edda or, historically, simply as edda, is an old norse work of literature written in iceland during the early th century. 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. The poetic edda is likely the single most important of all of our sources. What is the difference between the poetic edda and prose. The prose eddas stories were based on the oral tradition from the viking golden age 800. Anthony faulkes, copenhagen 1985 early icelandic manuscripts in facsimile xv. The poetic edd a unlike the prose edda has no known author or. Along with the prose edda, the poetic edda is the most. The poetic and prose eddas are ancient norse texts containing information about the origins of the universe according to norse mythology. The prose edda by snorri sturluson, paperback barnes. In edda books commonly distinguished as the prose, or younger, edda and the poetic, or elder, edda.
This translation of the poetic eddas by henry adams bellows is highly readable. The manuscript was written by one hand not known elsewhere, and is dated palaeographically to about 12701280. A comparison of the names of skalds and skaldic poems mentioned in both works will show that the author of each had a wide acquaintance with the conventional poetic literature of scandinavia, particularly of iceland, and that, if we suppose two distinct authors, both men had almost precisely the. Edda is a term that applies to two written collections of old norse mythology known as the poetic edda and the prose edda. The prose edda s stories were based on the oral tradition from the viking golden age 800. The eddas are a primary source for our knowledge of ancient norse pagan beliefs. Mar 21, 2017 completely written in verse, the elder edda later became known as the poetic edda to distinguish it from snorris prose counterpart. See prose edda text see also poetic edda text external links text of all original manuscripts the text with modern. If you are looking for one that is very prettily written, i recommend the translation by lee m. Although the prose edda certainly draws from the poems of the poetic edda, it also includes many embellishments. The prose edda is dedicated to the judeochristian god and claims. Translations are very scarce and typically come from only a couple sources. Prose edda was translated byarthur gilchrist brodeur in 1916. Jan 31, 2006 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.
The poetic edda translated by henry adams bellows 1936. I would recommend reading the byock translation of the prose edda first, then the byock translation of the volsunga saga, then the poetic edda. Poetic edda was translated by henry adams bellows in 1936. The prose edda is dedicated to the judeochristian god and claims odin and thor were from troy. The prose edda, by comparison, provides more detailed and engaging narrative similar to, say, the odyssey, although it is a collection of stories as opposed to a single epic, with the entertainment of the readerlistener. What is the difference between the prose edda and the poetic edda. 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 through the generations. The two eddas have had a profound effect on european literature in both style and content, not least on j. The poetic edda comprises a treasure trove of mythic and spiritual verse holding an important place in nordic culture, literature, and heritage. What is the difference between the prose edda and the poetic. Snorra edda or simply edda, is an auld norse wirk o leeteratur made in iceland in the early t century. The poetic edda index internet sacred text archive. The codex regius is arguably the most important extant. Several versions exist, all primarily of text from the icelandic medieval manuscript known as the codex regius, which contains 31 poems.
Currently we have plans to have our own translation of the poetic edda which will be a more literal translation without the poetic or academic errors that occur in most modern translations. Gaiman stays true to the source materials and presents the stories of thor and odin and loki and all of the norse gods in a language that feels fresh and engaging. The prose edda among the prose old norse sources, the prose edda, or simply the edda, contains the greatest quantity of information concerning our topic. It takes the form of a working edition of the mythological poems of the ancient norse poetic edda for modern pagans who practice the magic and religion of the north. The poetic edda is the modern attribution for an unnamed collection of old norse poems. The prose edda, an aa kent as the younger edda, snorris edda icelandic. The books are the main sources of the norse mythology. The poetic edda quotes showing 126 of 26 men brave and generous live the best lives, seldom will they sorrow. An old norse specialist explains the difference between the poetic or elder edda and the prose or younger edda, which are often confused. What is the difference between the poetic edda and prose edda. Several versions exist, all primarily of text from the icelandic medieval manuscript known as the codex regius. I read the prose edda so you dont have to wonder how.
If you are interested in a closer look, you may find english translations of both on. The poems of the poetic edda form the most complete and authentic body of surviving prechristian germanic religious and magical lore. Codex regius of the poetic edda is an icelandic manuscript of ninety small quarto pages, but the fifth gathering, probably 16 pages, is now lost. 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. Among the prose old norse sources, the prose edda, or simply the edda, contains the greatest quantity of information concerning our topic. 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 next step for anyone interested in norse mythology is likely my personal favorite, the poetic edda.
The codex regius was duly dubbed the poetic edda or elder edda, to distinguish it from snorris younger prose work. This stanza is quoted by snorri, the second line being omitted in most of the prose edda manuscripts. Among the prose old norse sources, the prose edda, or simply the edda. Prose edda synonyms, prose edda pronunciation, prose edda translation, english dictionary definition of prose edda. This treatise on norse poetics was written in the thirteenth century by the icelandic scholar and politician. In 1662 ce, bishop brynjolfur gifted many of his important literary collections to the king of denmark, frederick iii, to place in the new royal library. The poetic edda is simply a random collection of episodic poems that have survived the hazards of time and manuscript tradition to coalesce into a single volume. The poems of the poetic edda have waited a long time for a modern english translation that would do them justice. The poetic edda survived as a single copy, referred to as the codex regius, which came to light in 1643. I was all excited to do the collaborativefolkloresocial mediasnarkfest redux and boom.
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