Old Norse Poetry
Norræn kvæði
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About This Section
Old Norse poetry survives in several forms and traditions. The best known are the mythological poems (goðakvæði), which tell of the Norse gods and their world, and the heroic lays (hetjukvæði), which recount the deeds of legendary heroes. Alongside these stands skaldic poetry (dróttkvæði), an intricate poetic tradition which was often composed in praise of kings and chieftains.
Many of the mythological and heroic poems are preserved in the collection commonly known as the Poetic Edda, whose largest surviving source is the 13th-century manuscript Codex Regius. Additional poems of the same tradition survive in other medieval manuscripts.
Through these poems we encounter the gods, heroes, and stories that formed an important part of the mythological and legendary world of medieval Scandinavia.
1
Mythological Poems
Goðakvæði
The mythological poems (goðakvæði) are among the most important sources for the study of Norse mythology and Viking Age culture. Without them, our understanding of the Norse gods and their stories would be far more limited. The poems were preserved in medieval Icelandic manuscripts, though their origins lie in an earlier oral tradition.
Through these verses we encounter the gods, their deeds, their personalities, and the roles they played in the mythological world of the North. Taken together, the poems introduce the reader to a body of stories and beliefs that once formed part of the religious traditions of northern Europe.
1.1
Völuspá: Prophecy of the seeress
Völuspá is one of the foundational poems of Norse Mythology, that recounts the creation and ultimate destruction of the world through the prophecy of a seeress, or völva. She describes the genesis of the cosmos, the rise and fall of gods, and the coming of Ragnarok, the apocalyptic battle that leads to the end and subsequent rebirth of the world.
1.2
Hávamál: The High One's sayings
Hávamál is a collection of wisdom and practical advice attributed to Odin. The poem covers various aspects of life, including ethics, friendship, hospitality, and the importance of knowledge, blending philosophical reflections with practical guidelines for living honorably. It also contains mythological narratives, including how Odin acquired the runes.
1.3
Vafþrúðnismál: Vafthrudnir's sayings
Odin, disguised as Gangrad, challenges Vafthrudnir, the wisest of giants, to a battle of wisdom, where the loser of the contest must forfeit his head. To test each other’s depth of knowledge, they exchange questions about the cosmology of Norse mythology. In doing so, the reader gains insight into the heathen worldview.
1.4
Grímnismál: Grimnir's sayings
In Grímnismál, the god Odin, disguised as Grimnir, imparts extensive knowledge about the cosmos, the gods, various deities, and places within Norse Mythology while enduring torture at the hands of King Geirrod.
1.5
Skírnismál: Skirnir's sayings
Skirnir’s sayings tells the story of the god Freyr’s love for the giantess Gerd and his sending of his servant Skirnir to woo her on his behalf. Skirnir undertakes a perilous journey to Jotunheim, where he uses threats and magical spells to persuade Gerd to marry Freyr.
1.6
Hárbarðsljóð: Lay of Harbard
Lay of Harbard tells of a heated and witty exchange between the god Thor and a ferryman named Harbard, who is thought to be Odin in disguise. As Thor seeks passage across a river, Harbard taunts him with clever insults and boasts, leading to a contest of words between the two.
1.7
Hymiskviða: Lay of Hymir
Thor and Tyr’s quest to obtain a massive cauldron from the giant Hymir to brew beer for the gods’ feast. Thor’s immense strength and bravery are on full display as he battles monstrous creatures and performs incredible feats, including a legendary fishing trip where he nearly captures the Midgard Serpent.
1.8
Lokasenna: Loki's Quarrel
Loki crashes a feast of the gods and engages in a heated verbal duel, accusing them of various moral and ethical failings. Loki’s taunts and accusations expose the vulnerabilities and flaws of each deity, leading to escalating tensions and ultimately his capture and punishment.
1.9
Þrymskviða: Lay of Thrym
Recounts the adventurous tale of Thor recovering his stolen hammer, Mjolnir, from the giant Thrym. Disguised as the goddess Freyja, with Loki as his bridesmaid, Thor infiltrates Thrym’s hall to retrieve the hammer during a mock wedding ceremony.
1.10
Völundarkviða: Lay of Volund
The Lay of Volund tells the tragic and vengeful story of the master smith Volund, who is captured and hamstrung by King Nidhad. Using his cunning and skill, Volund crafts a plan to exact revenge on the king by killing his sons and making the king’s daughter unknowingly bear his child. A dark tale of suffering, revenge, and betrayal.
1.11
Alvíssmál: Words of Allwise
The dwarf All-wise who comes to claim the hand of Thor’s daughter in marriage, only to be met by Thor’s cunning challenge. Thor engages All-wise in a question-and-answer session, challenging his knowledge of the cosmos and delaying him until sunrise, when All-wise turns to stone.
1.12
Rígsþula: Rig's lay
The Norse god Rig visits three different households, fathering children that become the ancestors of the social classes in Norse society. Through these unions, the poem describes the origins and characteristics of thralls, free farmers, and nobles, illustrating the divine origins of social stratification. The poem provides a mythological framework for understanding the hierarchical structure of ancient Norse culture.
1.13
Baldrs draumar: Baldr's dreams
Odin ventures into the underworld to consult a deceased seeress about the disturbing dreams of his son, Baldr. The seeress reveals that Baldr’s dreams foretell his imminent death, a foreboding and somber prophecy, highlighting the fate that even the gods cannot escape.
1.14
Hyndluljóð: Hyndla's poem
The goddess Freyja seeks Hyndla help to trace the ancestry of her protégé, Ottar, to prove his noble lineage. Hyndla recounts a detailed genealogy of gods and heroes. The poem emphasises the importance of heritage and identity in Norse culture.
2
HEROIC POEMS
On Hetjukvæði, the Heroic lays
The heroic poems (hetjukvæði) are a series of Eddic poems that tell of legendary heroes and the deeds attributed to them. These stories belong to a wider Germanic heroic tradition that circulated across northern Europe. Over time the tales were reshaped through oral transmission and literary retelling, and the versions preserved in Old Norse reflect this long process of storytelling.
The heroic poems are usually grouped into three main narrative cycles: the story of Helgi Hundingsbani, the Niflung cycle, and the story of Jormunrekkr, king of the Goths. Together they form one of the most important surviving collections of Germanic heroic legend.
The poems below are presented in roughly the same order as they appear in the principal manuscript preserving most of the Eddic poems, the Codex Regius. The Helgi poems include Helgakviða Hundingsbana I, Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar, and Helgakviða Hundingsbana II. These are followed by the poems of the Niflung cycle, ending with Atlamál in grænlensku. The final group concerns king Jormunrekkr and includes Guðrúnarhvöt and Hamðismál.
LAYS OF HELGI
These poems recount the story of Helgi, a legendary warrior whose life is shaped by battle, fate, and his bond with the valkyrie Sigrún. Preserved in the Poetic Edda, the Helgi lays belong to the wider Germanic heroic tradition.
2.1
Helgakviða Hundingsbana I:
Lay of Helgi Hundingsbane I
The poem tells of the birth and early life of Helgi, his battles against the sons of Hunding, and his meeting with the valkyrie Sigrún, who becomes his fated companion.
2.2
Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar: Lay of Helgi Hjorvard's son
The story recounts the life of Helgi Hjörvarðsson, who receives his name and destiny from the valkyrie Sváfa and sets out to prove himself as a warrior.
2.3
Helgakviða Hundingsbana II: Lay of Helgi Hundingsbane II
This poem continues the story of Helgi and Sigrún, describing Helgi’s battles and death, and the tragic fate that binds the lovers even beyond the grave.
THE NIFLUNG CYCLE
The Niflung poems tell the tragic story of the hero Sigurd, the fall of the Burgundians, and the vengeance of Gudrun. Together they form one of the central heroic traditions of the Germanic world.
2.4
Grípismál:
Lay of Gripir
Sigurd visits his uncle Gripir, who foretells the hero’s future, his dragon-slaying, his doomed love for Brynhild, and the tragedy that will follow.
2.5
Reginsmál:
Words of Regin
The dwarf Regin tells Sigurd of the cursed treasure of Andvari and urges him to slay the dragon Fafnir and claim the hoard.
2.6
Fáfnismál:
Words of Fafnir
Sigurd kills the dragon Fafnir and gains wisdom after tasting the dragon’s blood, allowing him to understand the speech of birds.
2.7
Sigrdrífumál:
Words of Sigrdrifa
Sigurd awakens the Valkyrie Sigrdrifa (Brynhild), who rewards him with wisdom and runic knowledge.
2.8
Brot af Sigurðarkviðu: Fragment of The Lay of Sigurd
This fragment recounts the betrayal and murder of Sigurd, brought about through deception and the jealousy surrounding Brynhild.
2.9
Guðrúnarkviða I:
Lay of Gudrun I
Gudrun laments the death of her husband Sigurd, and the poem describes the grief that follows his murder.
2.10
Helreið Brynhildar:
Brynhild's Hel-ride
Brynhild rides to the realm of the dead and recounts the events that led to the tragedy of Sigurd’s death.
2.11
Guðrúnarkviða II:
Lay of Gudrun II
Gudrun recalls the story of her life and the betrayals that led to Sigurd’s death and her own suffering.
2.12
Guðrúnarkviða III:
Lay of Gudrun III
Gudrun defends her honour against accusations of infidelity, proving her innocence through an ordeal.
2.13
Oddrúnargrátr:
Oddrune's lament
Oddrun mourns her forbidden love for Gunnar and recounts the tragic events surrounding his death.
2.14
Atlakviða:
Lay of Atli
Guðrún takes vengeance on Atli after he kills her brothers, bringing about a grim and violent revenge.
2.15
Atlamál in Grænlensku:
Greenland Lay of Atli
This longer poem retells the story of Atli and Gudrun with additional detail, describing betrayal, captivity, and Gudrun’s final revenge.
THE JORMUNREKKR LAYS
These poems form the final episode of the Niflung cycle, recounting the fate of Gudrun’s children after the fall of the Burgundians. They tell of the death of Svanhild and the doomed revenge carried out by her brothers against the Gothic king Jormunrekkr.
2.16
Guðrúnarhvöt:
Gudrun's incitement
Gudrun urges her sons Hamdir and Sorli to avenge the death of their sister Svanhild, who was executed by the Gothic king Jormunrekk. Driven by their mother’s call for vengeance, the brothers set out on a fatal journey.
2.17
Hamðismál:
Lay of Hamdir
Hamdir and Sorli attack the court of King Jormunrekk to avenge their sister’s death, striking down the king before they themselves are overwhelmed. The poem tells of their doomed revenge and the tragic end of Gudrun’s lineage.
