Eddic, Skaldic, and Beyond: Poetic Variety in Medieval Iceland and Norway

296 Pages·2014·3.579 MB·English

by  Martin Chase (ed.)

Eddic, Skaldic,
and Beyond

Fordham Series in Medieval Studies
Mary C. Erler and Franklin T. Harkins, series editors

Eddic, Skaldic,
and Beyond
Poetic Variety in Medieval
Iceland and Norway
Edited by Martin Chase
Fordham University Press
New York 2014
Copyright © 2014 Fordham University Press
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Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication
Eddic, Skaldic, and Beyond : Poetic Variety in
Medieval Iceland and Norway / edited by Martin
Chase, S.J.
pages cm. — (Fordham Series in Medieval
Studies)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8232-5781-2 (hardback)
1. Old Norse poetry—History and criticism.
2. Eddas—History and criticism. 3. Scalds and
scaldic poetry—History and criticism. I. Chase,
Martin, editor of compilation.
PT7170.E33 2014
839'.61009—dc23
2014002166
Printed in the United States of America
16 15 14 5 4 3 2 1
First edition
Contents
Ac know ledg ments / ix
Introduction / 1
Martin Chase
Th e Sources of Merlínússpá: Gunnlaugr Leifsson’s Use of Texts
Additional to the De gestis Britonum of Geoff rey
of Monmouth / 16
Russell Poole
Th e Genesis of Strengleikar: Scribes, Translators,
and Place of Origin / 31
Ingvil Brügger Budal
Einarr Skúlason, Snorri Sturluson, and the Post- Pagan
Mythological Kenning / 44
Christopher Abram
Skáldskaparmál as a Tool for Composition of Pseudonymous
Skaldic Poetry / 62
Mikael Males
Háttatal Stanza 12 and the Divine Legitimation of Kings / 75
Kevin J. Wanner
Creating Tradition: Th e Use of Skaldic Verse in Old Norse
Historiography / 87
Rolf Stavnem
Rattus rattus as a Beast of Battle? Stanza 12 of Ragnars Saga / 102
Rory McTurk
Wit and Wisdom: Th e Worldview of the Old Norse- Icelandic
Riddles and Th eir Relationship to Eddic Poetry / 114
Hannah Burrows
viii Contents
Devotional Poetry at the End of the Middle Ages in Iceland / 136
Martin Chase
Love and Death in the Icelandic Ballad / 150
Paul Acker
Steinunn Finnsdóttir and Snækóngs Rímur / 162
Shaun F. D. Hughes
Notes / 191
Bibliography / 253
List of Contributors / 277
Index / 279