Snorri Sturluson qua Fulcrum : Perspectives on the Cultural Activity of Myth, Mythological Poetry and Narrative in Medieval Iceland

• Main Author: Frog, Etunimetön
• Other Authors: Department of Philosophy, History and Art Studies, Folklore
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: GLOSSA - THE SOCIETY FOR MEDIEVAL STUDIES IN FINLAND 2013
• Subjects: Fulcrum; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10138/42043

The present paper constructs an overview of Snorri Sturluson’s impact, through Edda, on the cultural activity of mythology in vernacular poetries and narration. General evidence of impacts on eddic and skaldic poetries (§1) provides a frame for a series of illustrative examples, beginning with the relatively unequivocal cases of Lokrur (§2) and the late stanzas added to Baldrs draumar (§3). However, the kenning ‘mud of the eagle’ clearly indicates Snorri’s reception in a contemporary context (§4), opening a threepart survey of cumulative evidence of influence on Lokasenna (§5–7). The possibility of influence as a model for Þrymskviða’s composition is suggested (§8), which would have analogues in saga prose (§9). Although details may be equivocated, Edda nevertheless emerges as a (sometimes contested) voice of authority in medieval Icelandic mythological discourses. Peer reviewed