The Poetry of Arnórr Jarlaskáld

The Poetry of Arnórr Jarlaskáld PDF Author: Diana Whaley
Publisher: Brepols Publishers
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 396

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Book Description
Arnorr Thordarson jarlaskald 'Earls'-poet', born c. 1011 in western Iceland, spent most of his adult life in mainland Scandinavia and Orkney, and his poetry consists mainly of encomia for the kings Magnus and Haraldr of Norway, and for Earls Thorfinnr and Rognvaldr of Orkney, whose patronage of Arnorr is commemorated in his nickname. The corpus of his work is, by skaldic standards, large and well preserved. The verses, orally composed, were not written down in full, but are preserved as scattered quotations within manuscripts of prose sagas from the thirteenth century onwards. When reconstructed they form substantial remains of four main encomiastic poems, together with similar fragments, which celebrate the deeds of Arnorr's heroes, singing especially of triumphs in battle, but also of seafaring, political manoeuvrings, and court customs. By his time, skaldic poetry had reached full maturity, and Arnorr, consummate master of the medium, uses its metrical and stylistic resources with wit and exuberance tempered with moderation.

The Poetry of Arnórr Jarlaskáld

The Poetry of Arnórr Jarlaskáld PDF Author: Diana Whaley
Publisher: Brepols Publishers
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 396

Get Book Here

Book Description
Arnorr Thordarson jarlaskald 'Earls'-poet', born c. 1011 in western Iceland, spent most of his adult life in mainland Scandinavia and Orkney, and his poetry consists mainly of encomia for the kings Magnus and Haraldr of Norway, and for Earls Thorfinnr and Rognvaldr of Orkney, whose patronage of Arnorr is commemorated in his nickname. The corpus of his work is, by skaldic standards, large and well preserved. The verses, orally composed, were not written down in full, but are preserved as scattered quotations within manuscripts of prose sagas from the thirteenth century onwards. When reconstructed they form substantial remains of four main encomiastic poems, together with similar fragments, which celebrate the deeds of Arnorr's heroes, singing especially of triumphs in battle, but also of seafaring, political manoeuvrings, and court customs. By his time, skaldic poetry had reached full maturity, and Arnorr, consummate master of the medium, uses its metrical and stylistic resources with wit and exuberance tempered with moderation.

A Companion to Old Norse-Icelandic Literature and Culture

A Companion to Old Norse-Icelandic Literature and Culture PDF Author: Rory McTurk
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 140513738X
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 584

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Book Description
This major survey of Old Norse-Icelandic literature and culturedemonstrates the remarkable continuity of Icelandic language andculture from medieval to modern times. Comprises 29 chapters written by leading scholars in thefield Reflects current debates among Old Norse-Icelandicscholars Pays attention to previously neglected areas of study, such asthe sagas of Icelandic bishops and the fantasy sagas Looks at the ways Old Norse-Icelandic literature is used bymodern writers, artists and film directors, both within and outsideScandinavia Sets Old Norse-Icelandic language and literature in its widercultural context

The Christianization of Iceland

The Christianization of Iceland PDF Author: Orri Vesteinsson
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191543020
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 338

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Book Description
In this first historical study of High-Medieval Iceland to be published in English, Dr Vesteinsson investigates the influence of the Christian Church on the formation of the earliest state structures in Iceland, from the conversion in 1000 to the union with Norway in 1262. In the history of mankind states and state structures have usually been established before the advent of written records. As a result historians are rarely able to trace with certainty the early development of complex structures of government. In Iceland, literacy and the practice of native history writing had been established by the beginning of the twelfth century; whereas the formation of a centralised government did not occur until more than a hundred years later. The early development of statelike structures has therefore been unusually well chronicled, in the Icelandic Sagas, and in the historical records of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Based on this wealth of material,The Christianization of Iceland is an important contribution to the discussion on the formation of states.

The Vikings

The Vikings PDF Author: Martyn Whittock
Publisher: Lion Books
ISBN: 0745980198
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 298

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Book Description
The popular image of the Vikings is of tall red-headed men, raping and pillaging their way around the coast of Europe, stopping only to ransack monasteries and burn longships. But the violent Vikings of the 8th century became the pious Christians of the 11th century, who gave gold crosses to Christian churches and in whose areas of rule pagan idols were destroyed and churches were built. So how did this radical transformation happen, and why? What difference did it make to the Vikings, and to those around them, and what is their legacy today? This book takes a "global" look at this key period in Viking history, exploring all the major areas of Viking settlement. Written to be an accessible and engaging overview for the general reader.

The Conversion of Scandinavia

The Conversion of Scandinavia PDF Author: Anders Winroth
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300178093
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 332

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Book Description
In this book a MacArthur Award-winning scholar argues for a radically new interpretation of the conversion of Scandinavia from paganism to Christianity in the early Middle Ages. Overturning the received narrative of Europe's military and religious conquest and colonization of the region, Anders Winroth contends that rather than acting as passive recipients, Scandinavians converted to Christianity because it was in individual chieftains' political, economic, and cultural interests to do so. Through a painstaking analysis and historical reconstruction of both archeological and literary sources, and drawing on scholarly work that has been unavailable in English, Winroth opens up new avenues for studying European ascendency and the expansion of Christianity in the medieval period.

Essays on Eddic Poetry

Essays on Eddic Poetry PDF Author: John McKinnell
Publisher: University of Toronto Press
ISBN: 1442669276
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 392

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Book Description
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 Hávamál, which includes an elegantly cynical poem about Óðinn’s sexual intrigues and a more mystical one about his self-sacrifice on the world-tree in order to gain magical wisdom; Vǫlundarkviða, which recounts an elvish smith’s revenge for his captivity and maiming; and Hervararkviða, 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.

Poetry from the Kings' Sagas 2: Poetry by named Skalds c.1035-1105

Poetry from the Kings' Sagas 2: Poetry by named Skalds c.1035-1105 PDF Author: Kari Ellen Gade
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Old Norse poetry
Languages : en
Pages : 468

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Book Description
The poetry in this volume commemorates the lives of Scandinavian rulers from c.1035 to 1280 and events that took place during their reigns. It mainly focuses on the kings of Norway and on noblemen and chieftains associated with these kings, although some of the kings of Denmark, as well as three of the jarls of Orkney receive attention.

The Viking Age

The Viking Age PDF Author: Angus A. Somerville
Publisher: University of Toronto Press
ISBN: 1487570473
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 550

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Book Description
Who were the Vikings, and do they deserve their unsavoury reputation? Through over 100 primary source documents, this fascinating collection weighs the cultural importance and lasting influence of the Vikings.

Notes and Queries

Notes and Queries PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Electronic journals
Languages : en
Pages : 596

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Book Description


Harald Hardrada

Harald Hardrada PDF Author: John Marsden
Publisher: The History Press
ISBN: 0752474448
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 316

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Book Description
One of the greatest medieval warriors Harald Sigurdsson, nicknamed Hardrada (Harold the Ruthless or hard ruler) fell in battle in an attempt to snatch the crown of England. The spectacular and heroic career which ended at Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire on 25 September 1066 had taken Harald from Norway to Russia and Constantinople and saw him gain a kingdom by force and determination rather than right or inheritance. He was one of the most feared rulers in Europe and was first and foremost a professional soldier, who acquired great wealth by plunder and showed no mercy to those he conquered. ' Harald Hardrada: The Warrior's Way' reconstructs a military career spanning three and a half decades and involving encounters with an extraordinary range of allies and enemies in sea-fights and land battles, sieges and viking raids across a variety of theatres of war. John Marsden's superbly researched and powerfully written account takes us from the lands of the Norsemen to Byzantium and the Crusades and makes clear how England moved decisively from three hundred years of exposure to the Scandinavian orbit to a stronger identification with continental Europe following the Norman invasion.