The Elder Edda and Ancient Scandinavian Drama

Originally published in 1920, this book provides a theory of the dramatic origin of the older Eddic poems.

Bertha S. Phillpotts (Assisted by)

9781107694842, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 June 2011

230 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.3 cm, 0.3 kg

Originally published in 1920, this book provides a theory of the dramatic origin of the older Eddic poems. Whilst the Eddic collection in general can be seen to contain a variety of unrelated elements, there is an essential unity to the older poems on native subjects. This can be seen in their special metre, their dialogic or monologic form, bearing traces of improvisation by one or more speakers, their stage directions, their stock scenes, their taste for disguised or theriomorphic characters, and their fixed traditional plots. In analysing this unity, the text brings forth observations on the relationship between the poems and the socio-cultural context in which they were written. This is a highly informative volume that will be of value to anyone with an interest in Old Norse literature and literary criticism.

Frontispiece
1. The Eddic problem
2. The Edda poems
3. The Edda poems in relation to other early Scandinavian verse
4. The chant-metre poems
5. Mythological poems in old-lore metre (excusrsus, Thrym's Lay)
6. Lost poems in chat-metre
7. Icelandic tradition and the Norwegian poems
8. Characteristics of Norwegian Eddic poetry: traces of popular origin
9. Characteristics of Norwegian Eddic poetry (cont.): the prose comments
10. Characteristics of Norwegian Eddic poetry (cont): stock scenes, theriomorphic personages and disguise
11. Evidence for indigenous drama in Scandinavia
12. Plots of the Eddic dramas: divine protagonists
13. Plots of the Eddic dramas (cont.): the ritual marriage
14. Plots of the Eddic dramas (cont.): the fertility drama
15. Characters of the fertility drama
16. Actors and authors. The chorus. The scene
17. The beginnings of tragedy. The Greek analogy
18. Conclusion
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: general [DSB]