In the following essay, originally published in 1896, Magnusson traces the etymological origins of the term Edda.
I shall begin my remarks to you by at once stating how I propose to deal with the s...
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In the following essay, Beekman surveys thematic and narrative resemblances between the Eddic poems Völundarqviða (concerning the smith-hero Volund) and Þrymsqviða (centere...
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In the following essay, originally published in 1952, Nordal presents an in-depth examination of the Eddic poem Völuspá (The Sibyl's Prophecy), discussing its critical and textual...
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In the following excerpt from his introduction to Patricia Terry's English translation of the Elder Edda, Dunn summarizes the pre-Christian ethos of these Old Icelandic lays, also discussing ch...
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In the following essay, Harris compares Grípisspá (The Prophecy of Gripir) with other poetic versions of the Sigurd legend, arguing that this synoptic Eddic poem is not without artistic ...
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In the following essay, Gurevich asserts a structural relationship between the comic and the serious elements of the Elder Edda, suggesting that the amusing and satirical qualities of the work should ...
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In the following essay, Haugen focuses on Odin, a central mythological figure in Eddic verse, in order to discern “the religious beliefs and practices of the Germanic tribes” he embodies...
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In the following essay, Hallberg surveys and analyzes the various modes of metaphorical language employed in the poetry of the Elder Edda, identifying the aesthetic and thematic functions of mythologi...
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In the following essay, Kellogg explores the origins of the Elder Edda as oral poetry and its preservation in written manuscripts, including the prose adaptation of Snorri Sturluson.
The oldest ver...
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In the following essay, Linke studies the symbolic representation of female procreative power—and an instance of male appropriation of that power—in the Elder Edda.
The present work i...
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In the following essay, Hollander examines the problem of dating the Eddic poems and considers their relation to paganism and Christianity.
"Concerning the mythological poems of the Edda, it...
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In the following excerpt, Harris discusses critical debates about the oral nature of Eddic poetry.
Eddic Poetry as Oral Poetry
[The] study of the oral nature of eddic poetry—to the extent th...
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Critical Essay by Eirikr Magnusson
