Skáldskaparmál

The Skáldskaparmál or Skaldskaparmal ( “Known as on poetry” in Old norrois) is the second part of the Edda of Snorri Sturluson. A dialog between Ægir and the god of poetry Bragi is the pretext of a broad presentation of Kenning rear (periphrases) and of Heiti (synonymous). The explanation of these kenningar makes it possible Snorri to tell many mythological or heroic accounts.

Presentation

The dialog has as a framework a sumptuous banquet given by the Ases in the honor of Ægir, presented here like a magician come from the island of Hlésey. At the time of the meal, Bragi gives to its neighbor at table of long lists of Heiti and Kenning rear , and tells him many stories allowing to explain the origin of it.

Some belong to mythology: the removal of Idun by Thjazi, and how Skadi chooses Njörd for husband, the origin and the flight of the poetic Hydromel, combat of Thor against the giant S Hrungnir and Geirröd or the manufacture of the invaluable objects of the gods. Others are relating to heroes or legendary kings: Snorri thus summarizes all the history of Sigurd and the Völsungar. It evokes also the kings Fródi and Hrólf kraki, as well as the Hjadningavíg.

The kenningar which appear in the Skáldskaparmál are borrowed from old Scalde S. Parfois, Snorri are not satisfied to quote a kenning , but bring back long extracts of poems making it possible to explain them: are thus quoted the Haustlöng of Thjódólf of Hvínir, the Thórsdrápa of Eilíf Godrúnarson and the Ragnarsdrápa of Bragi Boddason. Also appear in the Skáldskaparmál a poem considered as belonging to the poetic Edda although it does not appear in the Codex Regius : the Gróttasöng .

The Skáldskaparmál is completed on lists of heiti . Its last part is presented in the form of Thulur (lists of versified names and heiti and using average mnemotechnics): the various manners are thus presented of designating the gods, the giants, the men and the women, the battle and the weapons, and finally the natural elements.

Interest

The mythological and heroic accounts evoked in the Skáldskaparmál generally reached us only thanks to Snorri: without them, the many allusions contained in the scaldic or eddic poems would remain obscure. In the same way, the quoted poems would have been lost if they had not appeared in the Skáldskaparmál .

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