The poetic Edda

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

73533

Title

The poetic Edda

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This collection presents the Poetic Edda, a treasury of Norse mythology and heroic legend translated into metrical verse. Featuring the creation myths, the fall of the gods, and the tragic saga of Sigurth, it offers vivid imagery and profound wisdom. Ideal for readers seeking the dramatic force of ancient oral tradition and the origins of Germanic culture.

Summary up to 500 words

The Poetic Edda stands as the greatest literary monument preserved from the antiquity of the Germanic peoples, serving as the original storehouse of their mythology and epic storytelling. Compiled from ancient Norse poems preserved in the Codex Regius, this collection comprises thirty-four verses that blend mythological and heroic cycles into a dramatic tapestry of vivid imagery and tremendous conception. The work opens with the Voluspo, a prophecy detailing the creation of the world and its inevitable destruction by fire and ice, establishing a cosmic scale that dwarfs human concerns. The Lays of the Gods explore the pantheon of deities, including Odin, Thor, and Loki, through narratives such as the binding of the world-serpent and the acquisition of the Mead of Poetry. These poems vary in style from gnomic proverbs in the Hovamol to dramatic dialogues and ballads, offering wise counsels comparable to biblical proverbs and comedies full of vivid characterization. The Lays of the Heroes focus on the Volsung cycle, chronicling the rise and fall of Sigurth, his dragon-slaying feats, his marriage to the Valkyrie Brynhild, and the subsequent tragedy involving his brothers and the Burgundians. This narrative arc reflects the evolution of the legend from Frankish history to Icelandic tradition, where historical figures like the Burgundian king Gundicarius became the Norse Gunnar, and the Gothic king Ermanarich was introduced as Jormunrek. The collection is not a unified work but a haphazard assembly of separate poems, yet it remains a primary source for understanding pre-Christian Germanic beliefs. Translated by Henry Adams Bellows, this edition provides a complete metrical version that makes accessible the superb conceptions and dramatic force of these ancient texts, preserving the voice of the poet-singer before the pen and printing press replaced oral tradition.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Poetry
• Mythology