🔺4B Written Scandinavia Sources

Question 1

Who was Saxo Grammaticus and what book did he write?

Answer 1

was a Danish chronicler (ísl. annálsritari). He wrote Gesta Danorum.

Question 2

what does euhemerism mean?

Answer 2

um að goðin væru venjulegir menn sem teknir hefðu verið í guðatölu og goðsagnir byggðust á arfgengum frásögnum um raunverulegt fólk og raunverulega atburði.

Certain gods were initially great people who were venerated for their merits & deeds.

Question 3

What is the book Gesta Danorum about?

Answer 3

the book is a patriotic (ísl. þjóðræknisrit) work of Danish history. A euhemeristic version of how the deities came to be. 12th century. The book features among other things a man called Starkaðr

Question 4

What book features this quote: ,,At one time certain individuals, initiated into the magic arts, namely Thor, Odin and a number of other who were skilled at conjuring up marvellous illusions, clouded the minds of simple men and began to appropriate the exalted rank of godhead”

Answer 4

Gesta Danorum

Question 5

What book features this quote: ,,we must realise that Thor and Jupiter, Odin and Mercury are different personages”

Answer 5

Gesta Danorum

Question 6

What does Gesta Danorum say about Óðinn?

Answer 6

Óðinn as the inventor of the crescent battle line; of ambiguous loyalty. These too traced the origin of their race from the god Frø.

Question 7

What does Gesta Danorum say about Þórr’s (Thorkillus) adventures? what places does he travel to and where does he reside?

Answer 7

Thorkillus travels to Geirrøðr and Útgarða-Loki with and without King Gorm. Utgarthi-Locus resides in a cave surrounded by poisonous snakes

Question 7

Written sources from Scandinavia. What sources are classified as non-fictional texts?

Answer 7

Law codices, encyclopedic literature, diplomatic correspondences and speculum literature.

Question 7

Written sources from Scandinavia. What sources are classified as fictional texts?

Answer 7

Eddic poetry, Skaldic poetry and saga literature.

Question 8

What is the time span/ period of most of these written sources from Scandinavia?

Answer 8

late 9th century until the mid-14th century.

Question 9

Eddic and Skaldic poetry. Information regarding what?

Answer 9

mythology

Question 10

Saga literature. Information regarding what?

Answer 10

regarding religion and belief/s

Question 11

Publications of Edda? 4 types.

Answer 11

Poetic Edda
Elder Edda
Sæmundar Edda (outdated!)
Eddukvæði

Question 12

Eddukvæði is divided into 3 types.

Answer 12

Mythological Poems
Heroic Material
Eddica minora

Question 13

What are the meters (ísl. bragahættir) which characterize Eddukvæði?

Answer 13

fornyrðislag and ljóðaháttur

Question 14

What Edda was composed by Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241) around 1220-5, as a handbook for emerging skálds?

Answer 14

Snorra-Edda

Question 15

Snorra Edda consists of four parts. What are those parts?

Answer 15

Prologue
Gylfaginning (‘The Beguiling of Gylfi’)
Skáldskaparmál (‘The Language of Poetry’)
Háttatal (‘Tally of Metres’)

Question 16

What are the main things that characterize Prologue in Snorra-Edda?

Answer 16

Penmanship is debated
Biblical stories
Euhemeristic explanation of Old Norse divinities

Question 17

What are the main things that characterize Gylfaginning in Snorra-Edda?

Answer 17

Systematic and extensive presentation of Old Norse mythology.
Framed by the narrative of the fictional Swedish king Gylfi who succumbs to a visual illusion.

Question 18

What are the main things that characterize Skáldskaparmál in Snorra-Edda?

Answer 18

Some mythological stories,
Heroic material,
Combines pre-Christian, syncretistic, and Christian motifs.

Question 19

What are the main things that characterize Háttatal in Snorra-Edda?

Answer 19

Education/use of various metres,
Dedicated to King Hákon and Jarl Skúli.

Question 20

What is the other main category of poetry apart from Eddic poetry called?

Answer 20

Skaldic poetry.

Question 21

What characterizes Skalid poetry?

Answer 21

poet known by name
* mostly encomiastic (ísl. lofsamandi) or ekphrasis (detailed descriptions, ísl. orðatiltæki)*
complicated metrics and kenningar
counts syllables

Question 22

What characterizes Eddic poetry?

Answer 22

anonymous
relates mythological and heroic matter
simple metrics and kenningar
counts stressed syllables

Question 23

What is the main difference between Skaldi and Eddic poetry?

Answer 23

Skaldic poetry is mostly encomiastic or ekphrasis.
Eddic poetry relates mythological and heroic matter.

Question 24

What skáld, most famous for his Ragnarsdrápa becomes a deity in Snorra Edda?

Answer 24

Bragi Boddason