The Prose Edda: Preserving the Myths and Poetry of Medieval Iceland
The Prose Edda is one of the most important medieval texts for anyone interested in Norse mythology, Scandinavian literature, or the art of skaldic poetry. Compiled in Iceland during the early thirteenth century, it combines mythological storytelling with a practical guide for poets. Without this work, our modern understanding of the gods, cosmology, and literary traditions of the 'Viking Age' would be fragmented at best.
Who Wrote the Prose Edda?
The Prose Edda is attributed to Snorri Sturluson (c. 1179–1241), an Icelandic chieftain, poet, and statesman. Snorri lived during a turbulent period of Icelandic history known as the Sturlung Age, when power struggles between rival families dominated political life. He served as lawspeaker of the 'Althing' and spent time at the courts of Norwegian kings, which influenced both his politics and his literary work.
Snorri’s purpose in writing the Edda was not only to preserve myths but also to instruct poets in the craft of verse. By the thirteenth century, Iceland was fully Christian and the old religion had long since declined. However, the poetic tradition remained strong, and its complex kennings and metaphors relied heavily on knowledge of Norse mythology. Snorri’s work ensured that this poetic heritage would survive even as belief in the old gods faded.
Historical Context
The Prose Edda was likely written around 1220. Christianity had been established in Iceland for more than two centuries, yet the memory of the old mythology lingered in poetry, stories, and oral tradition. Snorri’s compilation reflects this - it preserves ancient myths, but it also interprets them through the lens of a Christian worldview.
This Christian influence is most obvious in the Prologue, where the gods are presented in a deified fashion that is described as once mortal heroes who were later mistaken for gods. This framing device made the myths acceptable to a Christian audience, while still allowing the core stories to be preserved.
Structure of the Prose Edda
The Prose Edda is divided into several distinct sections, each with its own function -
The Prologue -
The Prologue offers a Christianised introduction, tracing human history back to biblical and classical origins before introducing the Norse gods. It acts as a justification for recording pagan lore in a Christian society.
Gylfaginning (“The Deluding of Gylfi”) -
It is structured as a dialogue between King Gylfi, who visits the gods in disguise, and three enigmatic figures named High, Just-as-High, and Third. Through their question-and-answer exchanges, the great body of Norse mythology unfolds.
The section covers the creation of the cosmos out of Ginnungagap, the yawning void, and the giant Ymir, whose body forms the world. It introduces the gods Odin, Thor, and Loki, alongside the Vanir deities, giants, dwarves, and other beings. It explains the nine worlds, the world tree Yggdrasil, and the cycle of life and fate that governs the cosmos.
Ragnarök -
Perhaps the most dramatic element is the account of Ragnarök, the doom of the gods. Snorri narrates the foretelling of destruction: Baldr’s death, the great battles, and the fiery end of the world. Yet he also preserves the tradition of rebirth and renewal, where a new world arises, fertile and green, after the chaos. This dual vision of inevitable destruction and hopeful renewal is one of the most enduring features of Norse myth.
Skáldskaparmál (“The Language of Poetry”) -
This section blends myth with instruction, explaining the use of kennings and poetic synonyms. It includes stories of how certain images and metaphors came to be, such as why gold is called “Ægir’s fire” or “Sif’s hair”. These mythological tales serve to explain and legitimise poetic diction.
It is framed as a conversation between the god Bragi, the divine poet, and Ægir, a sea-giant and host. Through their dialogue, the reader is introduced to the poetic vocabulary that defined skaldic verse.
Kennings and Heiti -
Central to this section are kennings - complex metaphors such as calling the sea “the whale’s road” or gold “Ægir’s fire”. These poetic devices rely on mythological stories for their meaning. For example, gold is associated with Sif’s hair because of the tale in which Loki shears her locks and must replace them with golden strands crafted by dwarves. By retelling such myths, Snorri provides poets with the knowledge required to understand and create kennings.
Alongside kennings are heiti, single word poetic synonyms, such as “steed” instead of “horse”. Together, these devices enriched the highly stylised verse that was so prized in medieval Scandinavia.
The Nafnaþulur -
In some manuscripts, Skáldskaparmál is followed by the Nafnaþulur, extensive lists of names for gods, giants, weapons, animals, and more. These catalogues functioned as a reference guide for poets, ensuring they had a store of allusive terms at their disposal.
Háttatal (“Catalogue of Metres”) -
Here Snorri turns to the technical side of poetry. He presents an extensive list of verse forms, illustrating each with his own compositions. This section shows his mastery of skaldic style and serves as a practical handbook for aspiring poets.
Manuscripts and Transmission
The Prose Edda survives in several medieval manuscripts, including Codex Upsaliensis, Codex Regius of the Prose Edda, Codex Wormianus, and Codex Trajectinus. Each contains variations, omissions, or additions, highlighting the fluid nature of medieval textual transmission. Scholars must compare these manuscripts to reconstruct what Snorri may originally have written.
The survival of multiple copies also underlines the work’s importance in medieval Iceland. It was clearly valued not just as a mythological record but as an essential teaching text for poets.
Purpose and Function
At its core, the Prose Edda was a teaching tool. Skaldic poetry, with its layered kennings, was central to Icelandic culture and identity. Yet it required specialised knowledge - one had to know the myths to understand the metaphors. By recording both the stories and the technical forms, Snorri preserved a poetic tradition that might otherwise have been lost in a Christianised society.
The Edda also reflects Snorri’s personal ambition. As a poet, he wished to demonstrate his skill.. as a historian and intellectual, he sought to preserve the wisdom of earlier generations and as a political figure, he recognised the cultural prestige of mastering traditional forms.
Influence and Legacy
The impact of the Prose Edda cannot be overstated. For centuries, it has been the most comprehensive written source for Norse mythology. It shaped later medieval literature and provided modern scholars with a framework to interpret fragmentary Old Norse poems.
In more recent times, the Prose Edda inspired writers such as J. R. R. Tolkien, who drew heavily on Norse myth for The Lord of the Rings. It has influenced poets, artists, and musicians, and continues to play a major role in the revival of interest in Norse culture and paganism.
Scholarly Debates
Although the Prose Edda is invaluable, it is not without its problems. Scholars debate how faithfully Snorri preserved pre-Christian mythology. His Christian background, his political motives, and his literary tastes may all have shaped the way he presented the material.
There is also uncertainty over which parts he wrote himself and which may have been added later by copyists.
The Nafnaþulur (lists of mythological names), for example, appear in some manuscripts but not others.
Despite these uncertainties, the consensus remains that Snorri’s Edda is the single most important surviving guide to Norse myth and poetry.
The Prose Edda stands at the crossroads of myth and literature. It preserves the voices of a pagan past while shaping them for a Christian present. It is both a handbook for poets and a treasury of stories about gods, giants, and heroes. Without Snorri Sturluson’s work, our picture of Norse mythology would be scattered fragments rather than a coherent narrative.
For readers today, the Edda offers not only tales of cosmic creation and destruction but also insight into how medieval Icelanders thought, wrote, and remembered. It remains a cornerstone of European literary heritage and a timeless gateway into the world of the Norse gods.
Wyrd & Flame