History Literature / PoeticEdda

One of the two works referred to as ''[[Literature/ProseEdda Eddas]]'', the ''Poetic Edda'' is actually not a single, fixed work, but a collective term for poetry on stories and themes from Myth/NorseMythology as found in old UsefulNotes/{{Iceland}}ic manuscripts. The bulk of these poems, however, is contained in a single manuscript, the ''Codex Regius'', a work first compiled c. 1230 CE (though the only exemplar we have was created c. 1270 CE). The poems themselves are thought to date from various points between the 10th and 13th century. The exact dating of individual poems has always been subject to debate.

The ''Poetic Edda'' at [[http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/poe/ sacred-texts.com]] and [[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Poetic_Edda Wikisource]].

* RunicMagic: In the ''Sigrdrífumál'', the {{Valkyrie}} Sigrdrifa presents Sigurd with a memory-draught of ale charmed with "gladness runes" and then goes on to list victory-runes to be carved on a sword-hilt, runes to protect against bewitching ale, runes to facilitate childbirth, runes to protect ships...

* {{Necromancy}}: In the "Baldrs draumar", Odin jorneys into Niflheim in his wanderer disguise to revive a jötunn seeress and learn the meaning of Baldr's baleful dreams.

One of the two works referred to as ''Literature/{{Edda}}s'', the ''Poetic Edda'' is actually not a single, fixed work, but a collective term for poetry on stories and themes from Myth/{{Norse mythology}} as found in old UsefulNotes/{{Iceland}}ic manuscripts. The bulk of these poems, however, is contained in a single manuscript, the ''Codex Regius'', a work first compiled c. 1230 CE (though the only exemplar we have was created c. 1270 CE). The poems themselves are thought to date from various points between the 10th and 13th century. The exact dating of individual poems has always been subject to debate.

Those lays that are considered part of the ''Poetic Edda'' but are not found in the ''Codex Regius'', are sometimes called the ''Eddica Minora'' ("lesser Eddic lays"). All the lays of the ''Poetic Edda'' are generally of anonymous authorship.

For the history and meaning of the name ''Edda'', see ''Literature/TheEddas''.

* TheLostWoods: ''Járnviðr'' ("iron forest"), a forest "in the East", where a giantess raises giant wolves, "the offspring of Fenrir" ("Völuspá").

* TheLostWoods: There are several mentions of ''myrkviðr inn ókunna'', "the unknown Mirkwood", a vast and little explored forest located somewhere in Eastern or Central Europe.

* AfterLifeOfService: When Helgi Hundingsbani is killed after a heroic career and goes to Valhall, Odin "asked him to rule over everything with him." Straightaway Helgi orders his old enemy Hunding (who, having been killed by Helgi, is already in Valhall) to serve the other warriors in Valhall and do menial work, like kindling the fire, watching the horses, and feeding the pigs ("Second Poem of Helgi Hundingsbani").

* GiantCorpseWorld: "Grímnismál" and "Vafþrúðnismál" mention that the gods created the world from the dead body of the primal giant Ymir. Ymir's flesh became the earth, his bones mountains, his blood the sea, and his skull the dome of the sky. "Grímnismál" additionally mentions the gods making Ymir's hair into trees, his brains into clouds, and using Ymir's eyelashes to build the fortification of Midgard, which separates the world of men from the world of the giants.

* GiantCorpseWorld: "Grímnismál" and "Vafþrúðnismál" mention that the gods created the world from the dead body of the primal giant Ymir. Ymir's flesh became the earth, his bones mountains, his blood the sea, and his skull the dome of the sky. "Grímnismál" additionally mentions the gods making the clouds from Ymir's brain, and using Ymir's eyelashes to build the fortification of Midgard, which separates the world of men from the world of the giants.