Skaldic poetry
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Skaldic poetry (Icelandic: dróttkvćđi, "court poetry") is Old Norse poetry composed by known skalds, as opposed to the anonymous Eddaic poetry. The most prevalent metre is dróttkvćtt. The subject is usually historical and eulogic, detailing the deeds of the skald's king.
The skaldic poems have the following characteristics.
- The author is usually known.
- The meter is ornate, usually dróttkvćtt or a variation thereof.
- The syntax is complex, with sentences commonly interwoven.
- Kennings are used frequently and gratuitously.
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Skaldic poems
Most of the skaldic poetry we have are poems composed to individual kings by their court poets. They typically have historical content, relating battles and other deeds from the king's carrier. Examples:
- Vellekla - The deeds of Hákon Hlađajarl.
- Bandadrápa - The deeds of Eiríkr Hlađajarl.
A few surviving skaldic poems have mythological content.
- Ţórsdrápa - A drápa to the god Thor telling the tale of one of his giant-bashing expeditions.
- Haustlöng - Relates two tales from the mythology as painted on a shield given to the poet.
- Ragnarsdrápa - Relates four tales from the mythology as painted on a shield given to the poet.
- Húsdrápa - Describes mythological scenes as carved on kitchen panels.
To this could be added two poems relating the death of a king and his reception in Valhalla.
- Hákonarmál - The death of king Hákon and his reception in Valhalla.
- Eiríksmál - The death of king Eiríkr and his reception in Valhalla.
