Book contents
- The Cambridge History of Old Norse-Icelandic Literature
- The Cambridge History of Old Norse-Icelandic Literature
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Contexts
- Part II The Distant Past
- Part III The Saga Age
- 10 Íslendingasögur
- 11 Poets’ Sagas
- 12 Prosimetrum in the Íslendingasögur
- 13 Court Poetry
- Part IV The New Christian World
- PART V Beyond Iceland
- Part VI Compilations
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- Index
13 - Court Poetry
from Part III - The Saga Age
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 February 2024
- The Cambridge History of Old Norse-Icelandic Literature
- The Cambridge History of Old Norse-Icelandic Literature
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- Part I Contexts
- Part II The Distant Past
- Part III The Saga Age
- 10 Íslendingasögur
- 11 Poets’ Sagas
- 12 Prosimetrum in the Íslendingasögur
- 13 Court Poetry
- Part IV The New Christian World
- PART V Beyond Iceland
- Part VI Compilations
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
Court poetry is the label given to skaldic poetry in dróttkvætt (court metre) or one of its many variations, delivered as praise of rulers by Icelandic, Norwegian and Orcadian poets. This chapter discusses its typical content, including battle, voyages, praise, self-referential allusions to poetry, and mythical and religious references, both Christian and pre-Christian. The characteristic techniques of skaldic poetry – complex metre, diction (especially kennings) and word order, including clause arrangement – are described in detail. The three main forms of skaldic poetry, the drápa, flokkr and vísur, are distinguished, and subgenres of skaldic poetry such as ekphrasis, genealogical and historical poems, and eddic-style praise poems are described. Other types of court poetry, not straightforwardly encomiastic, are also considered. The social context and purpose of court poetry is explained, and the chapter concludes with a survey of the transmission, influence and modern reconstruction of court poems. Court poetry was such a useful medium for entertaining warrior elites that it endured for four centuries, and the continued inventiveness of court poets is noted.
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- The Cambridge History of Old Norse-Icelandic Literature , pp. 264 - 288Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024