The Poetic Edda for Everyone

The Poetic Edda, a notable assembly of anonymous Old Norse poems, has undergone translation from the Icelandic by Henry Adams Bellows, who also includes an introduction and notes. Despite its significance, this literary work has remained surprisingly inaccessible to both casual readers and serious literature students. Translations into other languages have been limited; notably, comprehensive translations reflecting recent scholarly advancements have only appeared in Germany.

For English readers, the situation has been particularly dire. The primary English translation until recently was Thorpe's version, published around fifty years ago, which is widely regarded as inadequate. Additionally, there are the unsatisfactory prose translations found in Vigfusson and Powell's Corpus Poeticum Boreale, reprinted in the Norrœna collection. Nonetheless, Olive Bray provided an excellent verse translation, complete with critical and explanatory notes, which was published by the Viking Club of London in 1908 and focuses on the poems related to the gods.

In French, only partial translations exist, with notable contributions made many years ago by Bergmann. The German landscape is richer, featuring seven or eight translations. Among these, the versions by the Brothers Grimm and Karl Simrock hold considerable historical significance due to their significant impact on nineteenth-century German literature and art, especially regarding Richard Wagner's works. However, Hugo Gering's commendable translation, published in 1892, and Genzmer’s recent two-volume translation, accompanied by excellent notes from Andreas Heusler, have since gained prominence.

At the beginning of the Codex Regius compilation lies the Voluspo, considered the most famous and important of the Eddic poems, as well as the most discussed. An alternative version of the Voluspo appears in the Hauksbok, a large miscellaneous compilation from around the year 1300. Additionally, various stanzas are included in Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda.

Notably, the order of stanzas in the Hauksbok version differs significantly from the sequence in the Codex Regius. Numerous published editions have engaged in experiments to rearrange these stanzas further. Nevertheless, despite certain interpolations, the organization of stanzas in the Codex Regius is generally viewed as more logical compared to the sweeping "improvements" attempted in various translations.

In conclusion, while the Poetic Edda may have faced challenges in terms of translation, its rich history and literary value remain crucial. The various translations, particularly those by Bellows, Bray, and Gering, have made this fascinating collection more accessible to a wider audience, enabling the appreciation of its intricate poetry and profound themes. The ongoing interest in the Edda showcases the enduring legacy of Old Norse literature and its importance in the canon of world literature.

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