Introduction to Skaldic Poetry
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Kennings in the Community Workshop Notes, University of Cambridge, 18 p.Skaldic poetry encompasses particular types of verse composed in Old Norse (medieval Scandinavian) from the early-ninth to late-fourteenth century. It is often characterised by its complex metrical structures, its riddling syntax, and the liberal application of an idiosyncratic form of metaphor known as the kenning. For the most part, skaldic poetry deliberately courts obscurity, reveling in word-play, irony, ambiguity and surreal imagery. It is important to bear in mind, however, that skaldic poetry varies greatly in terms of genre, theme and style, and thus these claims of obscurity and complexity by no means ring true for all poetry classified as skaldic.Contents: Skaldic Poetry: A Short Introduction. The mead of Óðinn. What is skaldic poetry? Preservation. Metre. Skaldic Diction. Some skaldic examples….
