Committed to velum anonymously in iceland around 1270, they were flash frozen from mucholder oral versions that had been circulating throughout northern europe for centuries. Jeramy dodds a the poetic edda youngadultcontemporary. 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 poetic edda begins with the seeresss prophecy which recounts the creation of the world, and looks forward to its destruction and rebirth. Poetic edda and prose edda free essays, term papers. The poetic edda was almost entirely wrong chapter 1. Together with the poetic edda, it comprises the major store of scandinavian mythology. The codex regius is arguably the most important extant source on norse mythology. The present volume contains all of the younger edda that can possibly be of any importance to english readers. The poetic edda, translated by henry adams bellows. The poetic edda translated by jeramy dodds is a highly readable and extremely engaging translation. Born in ajax, ontario, jeramy dodds grew up in orono, ontario.
It is the old custom, and the poetic edda holds a vital place in it. The poetic edda comprises a treasure trove of mythic and spiritual verse holding an important place in nordic culture, literature, and heritage. There are two widelyavailable versions of the poetic edda. Since the rediscovery of the poetic edda in the seventeenth century, its poetry has fascinated artists as diverse as thomas gray, richard wagner, and jorge luis borges. Jeramy dodds reading from his translation of the poetic edda. Loosed in translation which translation is best poetic. Hollander, 1986 excerpted from the poetic edda, published by university of texas press. Havamal, notable for its unforgettable flashes of beauty and despair, explores the nature of human knowledge. Does anyone have copies of the prose edda and the poetic edda in epubmobi pdf format.
He studied english literature and anthropology at trent university, and then decided to go overseas to the university of icenland to specialize in medieval icelandic studies. Nov 18, 2014 the poetic edda translated by jeramy dodds is a highly readable and extremely engaging translation. The manuscript was written by one hand not known elsewhere, and is dated palaeographically to about 12701280. The earlier is by lee hollander, who was a professor of germanic studies at ut. In this rousing line byline translation, awardwinning poet jeramy dodds transmits the old icelandic text into. It is the fullest and most detailed source for modern knowledge of germanic mythology. In this great collection of norseicelandic mythological and heroic poetry, the exploits of gods and humans are related.
Jackson crawfords recent version of the poetic edda keeps much of the original meaning of the words, but uses very simple accessible language. Poetic edda also saemunds edda, elder edda, or simply edda, a collection of ancient icelandic lays. Yggdrasil is described in many places in the elder edda. The prose edda, also known as the younger edda, snorris edda or simply edda, is an old norse work of literature written in iceland in the early th century. What is the difference between the prose edda and the poetic. He had twice allowed asgards greatest enemies within her borders, leading to the deaths of two of her fine warriors. Snorri quotes four lines of it, grouped together as a single stanza. The poetic edda article about the poetic edda by the. The poems of the poetic edda form the most complete and authentic body of surviving prechristian germanic religious and magical lore. For the prose edda, these two english translations are equally acceptable. 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. Though hattatal is formally addressed to the rulers of norway, its didactic purpose as an aid and encouragement to other poets and its intended icelandic audience are obvious.
Bellows translation has been corrected where there have been clear issues with the numbering of stanzas and where the author has clearly strayed from the old norse original text. The poem is one of the most vigorous of the entire collection, and seems to have been preserved in exceptionally good condition. Voluspa norse and germanic lore site with old norse. Does anyone have copies of the prose edda and the poetic. In this rousing linebyline translation, awardwinning poet jeramy dodds transmits the old icelandic text into. This volume presents four of the most intricate and fascinating mythological poems of the poetic edda, with parallel translations and individual introductions and commentaries. Several have been preserved in other ancient manuscripts. So important to the stock of norse mythology, this great.
Committed to vellum in iceland around 1270, the poetic edda has compelled the likes of richard wagner, j. Ive found plenty of places to read them online, but i want to put them on my phone and a kindle as well. It is one of the few extent sources that provide a periscope into the viking age consciousness. Voluspa, vafthrudnismol, grimnismol, skirnismol, harbardsljod, hymiskvitha, thrymskvitha, and lokasenna. These verses are a treasure trove of mythic and spiritual verse holding an important place in nordic culture, literature, and heritage. This newly revised edition of the poetic edda uses the more readable, highly acclaimed olive bray translation and contains the prophecy of the wise woman and the havamal. Jeremy doddss instinctive irony and musicality is a particularly apt fit for the idiosyncratic. Several versions exist, all primarily of text from the icelandic medieval manuscript known as the codex regius, which contains 31 poems. The poetic edda is a later manuscript dating from the second half of the th century, but containing older materials hence its alternative title, the elder edda. The poetic edda is essentially a collection of multiple mythological poems and hero poems detailing the lives and adventures of several prominent norse gods, warriors, and kings. Together with a new glossary of modern heathen terms and an edgy introduction, this is a primary resource for understanding the northern way. Codex regius is the most important manuscript of eddic poetry.
In fact, it gives more than has ever before been presented in any translation into english, german or any of the modern scandinavian tongues. This is a wonderful new edition of the poetic edda. Does anyone have copies of the prose edda and the poetic edda. The poetic edda is not only of great interest to the student of antiquity. The english translation chosen for the poetic edda is by henry adams bellows, from a 1936 publication that is now in public domain.
As such, theres a ton of magic, murder, and viking mayhem, but nothing resembling an. One of the two works referred to as eddas, the poetic edda is actually not a single, fixed work, but a collective term for poetry on stories and themes from norse mythology as found in old icelandic manuscripts. Dec 11, 2014 i had kinda picked this book out for its poetic aspectsi dare say, the task of translating from both archaic language into the modern and from a scandinavian tongue into english simultaneously poses quite the conundrum, indeedbut i was overwhelmed by the heft and flavor of the poetic edda. Jeramy dodds reading from his translation of the poetic edda at awp minneapolis 2015. It plays too fast and loose with the meaning of the original and fails to communicate a. The poetic edda is an epochmaking cache of mythological and heroic tales that have compelled wagner. It is generally believed that none of the poems were actually composed in their. The poetic edda pdf adobe drm can be read on any device that can open pdf adobe drm files.
There are satisfactory translations in norwegian and swedish probably more so than in english. 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. The poetic edda ursula dronke oxford university press. The lays long existed only in oral form, and the date of their composition remains in dispute. This acclaimed book by jeramy dodds is available at in several formats for your ereader. Snorri sturluson edda prologue and gylfaginning edited by anthony faulkes second edition viking society for northern research university college london 2005.
He studied english literature and anthropology at trent university, medieval icelandic studies at the university of iceland, and has worked as a research archaeologist in canada. The poetic edda is the modren attribution for an unnamed collection o auld norse poems. The poetic edda isbn 9781770563858 pdf epub jeramy dodds. There are so many reasons to read the poetic edda, and most of them are intelligent poetical reasons, but if youre just in it for the fart jokes, thats totally cool, too. Dodds has brought forth an exciting new translation of these medieval icelandic poems. 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. Setting text and translation side by side, dronke provides full introductions and commentaries for each of the poems. If you are interested in a closer look, you may find english translations of both on.
This new edition of mythological poems from the poetic edda takes the reader deep into the imagination of the viking poets c. The prose edda was written by the icelandic chieftain, poet, and historian snorri sturluson, probably in. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the poetic edda. I appreciate that any notes on the text or translation appear either at the beginning or the end, so that it can be read seamlessly and uninterrupted. Publication date 1923 publisher new york the americanscandinavian foundation. The bulk of these poems, however, is contained in a single manuscript, the codex regius, a work first compiled c. The poetic edda is an epochmaking cache of mythological and heroic tales that have compelled wagner, tolkien, borges and auden, among many others. Jeramy dodds born 4 december 1974 in ajax, ontario is a canadian poet born in ajax, ontario, dodds grew up in orono, ontario. Jeramy dodds a the poetic edda youngadultcontemporary pdf ebook epub download a dodds translation of the edda is deliciously evocative, reinvigorating canonical narratives with a modern energy while retaining their ancient sensuality and weight the translation brings to mind lewis caroll in its near jaunty, fairytale lilt, and a tone that is at times lively and at others mystical and. However, in case you downloadable this kind of software and still have worked with your ex, youll be able to end up being the initial consumer, which will depart the opinions. It is worthwhile to note that the term prose was only attached to the prose edda to distinguish it from the poetic edda. The lokasenna is found only in regius, where it follows the hymiskvitha. Along with snorri sturlusons prose edda, the poetic edda is the most important extant source on norse mythology and germanic heroic legends. The modern poetic translation of jeremy dodds cannot be recommended.
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. 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. Jeramy dodds transmits the old icelandic text into english without chipping the patina of the original. Anthony faulkes edda is similarly well noted and well written. Poets have tackled retranslations of inferno, sir gawain, beowulf.
The prose edda is related to the poetic edda in that the prose edda cites various poems collected in the poetic edda as sources. The poetic edda was ripe for a reconsideration, and jeramy dodds, exceptional poet and. Born in ajax, ontario, dodds grew up in orono, ontario. It is a collection of mythological and heroic poems of unknown authorship, composed over a long read more. The poetic edda by jeramy dodds pdf, ebook read online. A new edition of the famous collection of norseicelandic mythological and heroic poetry known as the poetic edda, with fully revised translations and updated introduction and notes includes three new poems and revised translations drawing on the latest scholarship. It is worthwhile to note that the term prose was only attached to the prose. The oneeyed odin, redbearded thor, loki the trickster, the lovely goddesses and. The poetic edda survives in a thcentury manuscript. While several versions exist, aw consist primarily o text frae the icelandic mediaeval manuscript kent as the codex regius. Publication date 1923 publisher new york the americanscandinavian foundation collection robarts. Hymiskvita is the boisterous tale of the giant hymir. Keeps a poetic flare and has extensive notes at the bottom.
A new edition of the famous collection of norseicelandic mythological and heroic poetry known as the poetic edda, with fully revised translations and updated introduction and notes. What are the best translations of the prose edda by. This is the first complete translation to be published in britain for fifty years, and it includes a scholarly introduction, notes, a genealogy of the gods and giants, and an. Translations are very scarce and typically come from only a couple sources. The poetic edda index internet sacred text archive.