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by John McKinnell (Author), Donata Kick (Editor), John Shafer (Editor)
Essays on Eddic Poetry presents a selection of important articles on Old Norse literature by noted medievalist John McKinnell. While McKinnell's work addresses many of the perennial issues in the study of Old Norse, this collection has a special focus on the interplay between heathen and Christian world-views in the poems.
Among the texts examined are H?vam?l, which includes an elegantly cynical poem about ??inn's sexual intrigues and a more mystical one about his self-sacrifice on the world-tree in order to gain magical wisdom; Vǫlundarkvi?a, which recounts an elvish smith's revenge for his captivity and maiming; and Hervararkvi?a, where the heroine bravely but foolishly raises her dead father to demand the deadly sword Tyrfingr from him.
Originally published between 1988 and 2008, these twelve essays cover a wide range of mythological and heroic poems and have been revised and updated to reflect the latest scholarship.
Author Biography
John McKinnell is an emeritus professor of Medieval Literature at Durham University.
Donata Kick is an independent scholar with a PhD in medieval studies from Durham University.
John D. Shafer holds a PhD from Durham University. He is a teaching associate in the School of English at the University of Nottingham.
