Vǫluspá 1-20 in Old Norse, with Analysis

A stanza-by-stanza look at what the text of Vǫluspá (the poem of creation and Ragnarok) says in Old Norse. This video covers stanzas 1-20; future installments will eventually cover the rest of the poem.

Logos by Elizabeth Porter (snowbringer at gmail).

[lajakl]

'Hljóðs bið ek allar helgar kindir' is such a good opening to the poem. The author clearly had an eye for dramatic effect.

[VikingTokyo]

I love that you write the stanzas also in runes. The beautiful vistas where you do these videos are magnificent. It really adds a lot.

[legionitalia]

I’m starting to pick up the language, solely by studying your videos. I took German in high school and then self studied after college, which has helped somewhat, but your explanations and lessons are incredibly powerful. Thank you Dr. Crawford. Mission accomplished. The ivory towers are crumbling.

[trufflehunter]

Jackson, fantastic work! I just arrived back home in Australia today, from my two-week “pilgrimage” to Iceland. One of my many reasons for going there was to experience first-hand the country that gave birth to so much of our language and culture. A legacy that is so misunderstood, at best, or, at worst, ignored completely. One Saturday I visited the Kólaportið, the “Flea Market”, in Reykjavík and discovered a four-volume set of the Edda, quarter-bound in leather with marbled paper sides. For the amazing price of 8, 500 Icelandic Krona (about $90 US). I thought I’d died and gone to Valhalla! Edited by Guðni Jónsson and printed in Akureyri in 1954, it consists of two volumes of Eddu Kvæði as well as Snorra Edda and Eddu Lyklar.
On this first evening of my return, I’ve been following along with your readings from Völuspá and have noticed quite a few differences. These volumes must be based on the Hauksbók rather than the Codex Regius.
One such difference is in Stanza 9: your Codex Regius reading of the last line is “ok ór blám leggjum” whereas in this version it reads “ok ór Bláins leggjum” which changes things dramatically from “blue legs” to the legs of someone called “Bláin”!
Another difference that struck a chord with my love for Tolkien (another reason for going to Iceland) is in the list of dwarf names. In your reading there is no mention of Dóri and Óri. However, there are two extra lines in this version that mention them along with two other miscreants called Dáfr and Andvari!
I’d be fascinated to hear you read or discuss the main differences between these two sources of the poem.
Takk fyrir! You are truly inspirational. Bring on your translation of Snorri's Edda!

[ianmurphy]

I have to say your audiobook of the poetic edda is my favourite translation, I listen to it every month or so. Thanks for taking the time to write it

[andersmansfeldt]

19:th stanza (24:23) 'Sprinkled with white clay': I don't know if it still is done, but untill not so long ago fruit trees used to be 'painted' with white paint / clay / lime to prevent the trunk and limbs from drying in the sun. This part of the stanza could be a hint that the tree was taken care of by someone.

[inzane]

This was in one word. Wonderful, thank you for taking your time to do all your posts its so enjoyed and appreciate by so me include myself.

[venm]

thank you for all the knowledge shared, please continue.

[garytucker]

Thank you for share Sir, good health to you.

[scottpinard]

As always, great video. Thank you for all of the information you discuss.

[wolfbananabear]

Fascinating as always! Looking forward to more.

[pedromas]

Thanks for all the great work you’re sharing with us! I have a question I was not able to get the answer: I see often the words « var » en « er » for example, written with the rune Sól and not Reið at the end. Do you have an explanation for that please?
Thanks

[NatharaCS]

I also love he vistas and I really love the train at the end. Something about trains and

[Kate]

Just discovered your wonderful channel. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us. My grandparents were Dutch and Frisian. My interest in languages of northern Europe started with listening to them speak Dutch. I though Deutch would be similar to Dutch! It wasn't I discovered in 7th grade but took in for 4 years anyway! My grandparents had a set of 19th century books on European myths and folklore. So, though I am near 60 years old, I still am fascinated to learn so much about Old Norse and Norse sagas. My first saga was Hrolfr Kraki saga. I adopted the pen name "Yrsa Hrólfsdóttir" after my father, Roelof, passed on. I always remember by grandparents and extended Dutch family calling me "Roelof's dochter" when making reference to me. I hope to buy your book and join as a supporting patron on your patreon site. Thank you, again, for all your wonderful videos.

[hbpattskyn]

Thank you so much for this (for all your videos, really, but I'm especially enjoying these).

[sevazinhogamer]

Jackson i`ve found your channel some weeks ago and i love it, you`re doing something that nobody did before i think, and the way you explain is simply and easy to learn. Im a beginner blacksmith and ill need to reproduce some norse artifacts and relics but its really hard to find pictures of them and when i find i really dont know if they're real or fake. Do you have any book or can tell me if is there a place i can find some pictures of norse paintings or tools/devices? I do not own your books, but ill buy very soon!

[feelthenihilism]

Hi Dr. Crawford, first of all thanks for all your videos, this is my favourite channel on YT. Regarding the word mjǫtvið in stanza 2, every translation I found gives "Measure-Tree" or "Measurement-Tree". You translate it as "Fate-Tree", if I understand correctly from this video. The online Dictionary of Old Norse Prose gives "the measure" for the word mjǫt. Why did you chose "fate"? are there other meanings of this word? Thank you very much and... all the best!

[scogginsunl]

That was great thank you. I look forward to watching more. I have shared it with others.

[louispellissier]

Aurvang is a dwaf, on stanza 14 you said you "don't know what it is" but you mentioned this dwarf's name in the list of dwarf names in the previous stanza.

[ccxrv]

HUGE lil question: why do you write *er* as <IS> in the runnic?? In stanza No 2. Þar er Ymir...I went to several videos and in all of them you do this so Im guessing there is a rule... Thanks!