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. 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 first edition of the novel was published in 1220, and was written by snorri sturluson. The prose edda, also known as the younger edda, snorri s edda or, historically, simply as edda, is an old norse work of literature written in iceland in the early th century. Snorris authorship of the prose edda is considered established by the rubric at the. The names of gods and goddesses in snorri sturlusons edda. The assumption that snorri sturluson is responsible for writing the edda is largely based on the following paragraph from.
What story or stories impress you as the most intriguing or profound. Edda is one of the most important pieces of medieval literature in the world. He comes to the great judgment and gathers all the good into gimle to dwell there forever, and evermore delights enjoy. The name is not found as the heading of this part of the text in any early manuscript r and w have large ornamental initials at 12, though. The prose edda of snorri sturlson, free ebook global grey. The gylfaginning deals with the creation and destruction of the world of the norse gods, and many other aspects of norse mythology.
The second part of the prose edda is called the skaldskaparmal and the third hattatal. Widely considered as compiled by icelandic scholar and historian snorri sturluson around the year 1220, the prose edda contains a euhemerized prologue followed by three tales. The prose edda of snorri sturlson by arthur gilchrist brodeur. These gods are mentioned daily by millions of people. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 180 pages and is available in paperback format.
A collection of essays university of manitoba press, 1983, only one of a dozen essays was concerned with snorri sturluson s prose edda, the bulk of them discussing various aspects of the elder or poetic edda. The work is often assumed to have been written, or at least compiled, by the icelandic scholar, lawspeaker, and historian snorri sturluson c. Snorra edda or, historically, simply as edda, is an old norse work of literature written in iceland during the early th century. Jan 30, 2010 the prose edda, or younger edda, is a classic collection of norse myths of the icelandic people. Although some might with justice question his accuracy, few would deny that he was a literary genius creatively writing from the viewpoint of his own times. Most editors combine lines 12 with stanza 36 either with the first two. Snorri sturluson, icelandic poet, historian, and chieftain, author of the prose edda and the heimskringla. What role does ragnarok play in the prose edda and what does it reveal about norse mythology. Most editors combine lines 12 with stanza 36 either with the first two lines thereof or the whole stanza.
Snorri sturluson the icelandic statesman snorri sturluson 11791241 was his countrys most renowned historian. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. This translation of the poetic eddas is highly readable. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. 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. He was the author of the prose edda or younger edda and the heimskringla, a history of the norwegian kings that begins with legendary material and moves through to early medieval scandinavian history. Sturlusons work contains his versions of numerous norseicelandic myths as well as a fair catalogue of tropes, motifs and kennings of skaldic poetry. While snorri sturluson appears to have been a nasty man, his fame rests on his literary genius, all in all the greatest of ancient scandinavia.
It is characteristic of the learned reception that it attempted to combine the. This edition was created and published by global grey globalgrey 2018. He was threetime elected lawspeaker at the icelandic parliament, the althing. Also known as the younger edda or snorri s edda, the prose edda is a threepart work composed or at least compiled by thirteenthcentury icelandic scholar snorri sturluson.
Along with the older poetic edda, snorri sturluson s prose edda is one of the most important works of old norse literature. Chapters divisions are not part of the original text and therefore do not correspond between editions. Gylfaginning is the first part of snorri sturluson s edda, and contains. Written by icelands most versatile literary genius, snorri sturluson s prose edda is a work without predecessor or parallel. The prose edda by snorri sturluson runemarks by joanne harris the poetic edda by. The prose edda, also known as the younger edda, snorris edda or simply edda, is an old norse. The work is often assumed to have been written, or at least compiled, by the icelandic scholar and historian snorri sturluson. Pdf loki a provocative lecture a lecture presentation given at. The prose edda, also known as the younger edda, snorri s edda icelandic. The uppsala codex parchment of about 20 names snorri s book as edda. Who is the most interesting god to appear in the prose edda. The icelandic scholar, au thor, and politician snorri sturluson wrote the work as a textbook on the art of skaldic verse. His work surveys the content, style and metres of traditional viking poetry and includes a poem of snorri s own, praising the king of norway. How would you characterize the giants as portrayed in the prose edda.
And now, if you have anything more to ask, i cant think how you can manage it, for ive never heard anyone tell more of the story of the world. The asatru has always been a source of inspiration for great artists and this book collects the best works of art inspired by the edda. Snorri sturluson, article by jonas kristjansson at snorrastofa. Jan 10, 2019 gylfaginning, or the tricking of gylfi, is the first part of snorri sturlusons prose edda. The main characters of this classics, history story are. The only prose account of the old faith of the vikings, the asatru. The cultural atmosphere where snorri was raised, combine with the agitated political. A big plus is the fact that the book contains both the original names of characters in old icelandic, and a translation in english. The prose edda by snorri sturluson was written in the 12th century and was a handbook to writing old norse poetry. 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.
The prose edda contains a wide variety of lore which a skald poet of the time would need to know. Snorri sturluson was in the fullest sense a product of his time. Actually, you can check out the myth right here at shmoop, but well give you a quick summary anyway. The prose edda is the most renowned of all works of scandinavian literature and our most extensive source for norse mythology. The older poems of the poetic edda were snorri s sources for a large part of his edda. Tales from norse mythology in pdf or epub format and read it directly on your mobile phone, computer or any device.
The prose edda by snorri sturluson, paperback barnes. Challenging eurocentric theories of migration, azerbaijan international, vol. Intended to be a handbook in skaldic poetry, it preserves invaluable mythological tales that were on the verge of being forgotten even in sturluson s time. Snorri was a christian, and the effects of a christian perspective are apparent in this work, but he nevertheless treats pagan mythology with respect and seriousness.
Buy the prose edda by snorri sturluson with free delivery. Free download or read online the prose edda pdf epub book. Snorri sturluson wrote his edda, also known as the prose edda, around 1220. In the thirteenth century, snorri sturluson 11791241 maae qn attempt to infuse new interest in the art of skaldic poetry. Snorri sturluson books list of books by author snorri sturluson. The poetic edda comprises a treasure trove of mythic and spiritual. Pdf a lecture or presentation about the norse god loki. This is the source material, handed down for centuries, about the lives of odin, thor and loki. Anthony faulkes, copenhagen 1985 early icelandic manuscripts in facsimile xv. The prose edda brodeur translation snorri sturleson 1178 1241, translated by arthur gilchrist brodeur 1888 1971 also known as the younger edda or snorri s edda, the prose edda is a threepart work composed or at least compiled by thirteenthcentury icelandic scholar snorri sturluson. This is an excellent translation of snorri sturluson s prose edda.
The younger edda, also known as snorres edda, or the prose edda, is a collection of old norse poems preserved by snorri sturluson 11791241. It is an exposition of the rule of poetic diction with many examples, applications, and retellings of myths and legends. Tales from norse mythology selected and translated by jean i. The life of snorri sturluson fell in a great but contradictory age, when all that was noble and spiritual in men seemed. Snorri sturluson by marlene ciklamini english 1979 isbn. Read the prose edda of snorri sturlson by unknown available from rakuten kobo. 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. Prose edda is a work without predecessor or parallel. Snorri was a great poet as well as a great writer, and he. He then explains the ornate diction of the ancient skaldic poets and explains the great variety of poetic metres used in skaldic read more. The prose edda of snorri sturlson ebook by unknown. Books by snorri sturluson sorted by popularity project gutenberg books by snorri sturluson sorted by popularity. Snorri sturluson 1178 september 23, 1241 was an icelandic historian, poet and politician.
Odin and his brothers, vili and ve slay the giant ymir and use his blood and bones to fashion the world and its inhabitants. 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. It is essentially a collection of four sections interspersed with excerpts from earlier skaldic and eddic poetry containing tales from norse mythology. Snorri, a descendant of the great poet and hero of the egils saga, egill skallagrimsson, was brought up at oddi from the age of three in the home of jon loptsson, the most influential. Prose eddagylfaginning wikisource, the free online library. Also called snorres edda, or the prose edda by snorri sturluson. Snorri was born in western iceland in 1179, the son of a great chieftain, and early in his career won a reputation at home and in norway for his poetic talents. In sturlusons prose edda, loki joins the army of asgards enemies.
Get free shipping on the prose edda by snorri sturluson, from. Jun 08, 2014 the prose edda is one of the most famous epic poems of the viking age, written by a medieval contemporary named snorri sturlson. 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. Sturluson, an icelandic lawspeaker high court official, was a crucial preserver. The poetic and prose eddas are ancient norse texts containing information about the origins of the universe according to norse mythology.
The function of loki in snorri sturlusons edda stefanie. His work surveys the content, style and metres of traditional viking poetry and includes a poem of snorri s own, praising the king of. Snorri sturluson simple english wikipedia, the free. Firstly, one must appreciate that this is snorri s edda the prose edda, and will appeal mostly to those who have an avid interest or appreciation of nordic mythology.
Snorri sturluson edda viking society web publications. He was elected twice as lawspeaker to the icelandic parliament, the althing. Project gutenberg offers 61,334 free ebooks for kindle, ipad, nook, android, and iphone. The older poems of the poetic edda were snorri s sources for a large part of his edda, consisting of three parts.
It was designed as a handbook for poets to compose in the style of the skalds of the viking ages. See all books authored by snorri sturluson, including edda, and egils saga. It was written around the year 1220 by snorri sturluson, who was not only a very. Its gods live with the tragic knowledge of their own impending destruction in the cataclysmic battle of ragnarok. The prose edda is one of the most famous epic poems of the viking age, written by a medieval contemporary named snorri sturlson. A similar combination of scholarly and imaginative talent is seen in the prose edda c. Snorri sturlusons edda viking society web publications. Over a period of twenty years, snorri sturluson, scholar, courtier and poet, compiled the prose edda as a textbook for young poets who wished to praise kings.
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