Skírnismál
Translations
in English
Old Norse Poetry
I
Overview of Skírnismál
Skírnismál (“The Lay of Skírnir”) is a poem that tells the story of the god Freyr and his longing for the giantess Gerðr. Unable to win her himself, Freyr sends his servant Skírnir on a journey to Jötunheimr (“Giant’s land”) to ask for her hand on his behalf.
The poem is a dialogue-driven narrative which combines elements of myth and negotiation. Skírnir first offers gifts and promises, but when these fail, he turns to threats and magical curses to force Gerðr into an agreement.
Skírnismál is part of the Poetic Edda, a collection of Old Norse poems preserved primarily in the medieval Icelandic manuscript known as the Codex Regius.
Themes of Skírnismál
- Desire and longing
- Courtship and coercion
- Power and negotiation
- Fate and inevitability
- Magic and curses
II
Read Skírnismál in English
Skírnismál has been translated into English many times, with each version reflecting different priorities. Some aim for close, literal accuracy, while others focus more on poetic style and readability.
No single translation captures every aspect of the original, and each brings its own perspective and emphasis. Reading more than one version can therefore provide a broader understanding of the poem.
Skírnismál -
Modern English Translation (in the works.)
— a clear and accessible modern rendering.
Skírnismǫ́l - The Lay of Skirnir
English Translation (1928) by Lee M. Hollander
— scholarly translation balancing accuracy and poetic form.
Skirnismol - The Ballad of Skirnir
English Translation (1923) by Henry Adams Bellows
— one of the most widely read modern editions.
Skirnismál - The Story of Skirnir
English Translation (1908) by Olive Bray.
— a classic early 20th-century translation with literary style.
Skírnismál - The Journey or Lay of Skirnir
English Translation (1865) by Benjamin Thorpe.
— one of the earliest English translations of the Poetic Edda.
Keep Exploring
Other Old Norse Poems
Explore other poems from the Poetic Edda and the wider Old Norse corpus.
