Tag: skald
-
Concerning Overworking
As busy as the Master Builder burdening Svadilfari with stone,[1] the book-grove dweller,[2] the brain-gilder,[3] will one day reduce to weary bone. Hurry to Heimdall’s[4] peaceful mead-hall, to Himinbjorg,[5] when giant’s wind[6] howls in the brow-fortress;[7] to Baldur’s[8] hall, fair Breidablik,[9] when mind-trouble prowls. Notes: 1 | These first two lines refer to a story…
-
Sagas: Skalds and Poetry
This week we will begin a discussion on skalds (poets) and their tradition. Poetry had a much higher value in the medieval world than it does today. Words had power, so much so that they could even physically deform you. Law texts specifically note punishments for slandering someone’s name. This is not only unique to Scandinavian region…
