The Poetic Edda: Volume II: Mythological Poems

by Oxford University Press, USA

Overview

This volume presents five Norse poems, originally of oral composition, from the late ninth to the early eleventh century. Each has a translation and commentary, intoduction, analysis of structure and meaning, provenance and date. Voluspa traces the history of the earth and its deities, Rigspula pursues the divinely programmed progress of man from ancinet thralldom to contemporary kingship, Volundarkvida concerns the torn halfs of human nature, in the swan-woman and the elf-man, Skírnismál tells of the earth's feminine obstinacy that denies the sun-god his love and Lokasenna tells scandalous tales of the gods.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198111818
Publisher:	Oxford University Press, USA
Publication date:	12/28/1997
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	464
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Linacre College, Oxford

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations
The Manuscripts
The Printed Text
Abbreviations
Voluspá
Rigspula
Volundarkvida
Lokasenna
Skirnismál
all five poems divided into Contents, Text and Translation, Introduction, Commentary on the Text; Voluspá also featuring an Appendix: Baldrs Draumar Text, Translation, and Commentary; Volundarkvida also featuring an Index of Personal Names
Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

"...the work is a remarkable achievement, throwing new light on the background and composition of the texts examined: the comments are most instructive, and the discussions open new perspectives. An outstanding book, henceforth indispensable for all students of the Poetic Edda."—The Journal of Indo-European Studies

From the Publisher