Eddic, Skaldic, and Beyond Fordham Series in Medieval Studies Mary C. Erler and Franklin T. Harkins, series editors Eddic, Skaldic, and Beyond Poetic Variety in Medieval Iceland and Norway Edited by Martin Chase Fordham University Press New York 2014 Copyright © 2014 Fordham University Press All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means— electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other— except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Fordham University Press has no responsibility for the per sis tence or accuracy of URLs for external or third- party Internet websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. Fordham University Press also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Eddic, Skaldic, and Beyond : Poetic Variety in Medieval Iceland and Norway / edited by Martin Chase, S.J. pages cm. — (Fordham Series in Medieval Studies) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8232-5781-2 (hardback) 1. Old Norse poetry—History and criticism. 2. Eddas—History and criticism. 3. Scalds and scaldic poetry—History and criticism. I. Chase, Martin, editor of compilation. PT7170.E33 2014 839'.61009—dc23 2014002166 Printed in the United States of America 16 15 14 5 4 3 2 1 First edition Contents Ac know ledg ments / ix Introduction / 1 Martin Chase Th e Sources of Merlínússpá: Gunnlaugr Leifsson’s Use of Texts Additional to the De gestis Britonum of Geoff rey of Monmouth / 16 Russell Poole Th e Genesis of Strengleikar: Scribes, Translators, and Place of Origin / 31 Ingvil Brügger Budal Einarr Skúlason, Snorri Sturluson, and the Post- Pagan Mythological Kenning / 44 Christopher Abram Skáldskaparmál as a Tool for Composition of Pseudonymous Skaldic Poetry / 62 Mikael Males Háttatal Stanza 12 and the Divine Legitimation of Kings / 75 Kevin J. Wanner Creating Tradition: Th e Use of Skaldic Verse in Old Norse Historiography / 87 Rolf Stavnem Rattus rattus as a Beast of Battle? Stanza 12 of Ragnars Saga / 102 Rory McTurk Wit and Wisdom: Th e Worldview of the Old Norse- Icelandic Riddles and Th eir Relationship to Eddic Poetry / 114 Hannah Burrows viii Contents Devotional Poetry at the End of the Middle Ages in Iceland / 136 Martin Chase Love and Death in the Icelandic Ballad / 150 Paul Acker Steinunn Finnsdóttir and Snækóngs Rímur / 162 Shaun F. D. Hughes Notes / 191 Bibliography / 253 List of Contributors / 277 Index / 279