The best Medieval Poetry: crowd reviews

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I'd recommend The Essential Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks. I don't speak Persian and haven't read other translations, but I think this collection is great. I particularly like “The Reed Flute's Song” and “I Have Five Things to Say.”

Thanks so much! This is all uber useful. I know what I'll be reading this evening! So that's your personal blog, of sorts?

This is the copy of the Poetic Edda I was looking at. I'm not sure if that one is the "revised" edition.

There's a really good translation available on Amazon that I read once in a library. It has the original text alongside the English translation, with extensive notes on the context of the poem and why the translator chose to translate the text the way he did.

I'm not sure if it always rhymes the same, since different translators can make different choices about how best to honor the original prose while staying true to the meaning of the text, but there are parts that do rhyme in it.

The version I'm reading now reads like the King James Bible and is hard follow at times, but it was free for my Kindle sooooo -_- So far, the poem's got a lot more depth to it than the video game did.

Also, last time I checked this was weirdly not on the reading list:

The vast majority of Norse myths come from two books that are surprisingly accessible to modern audiences if you have a good translation. And as it so happens, they are also pretty cheap!

My recommendation is to get this version of the Poetic Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Edda-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199675341/ref=mp_s_a_1_1) and this version of the Prose Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Edda-Everymans-Library-Snorri-Sturluson/dp/0460876163/ref=mp_s_a_1_1).

> Also, I’m told the stories of the pantheon involve…

I think it might help you to give these stories a read for yourself, specifically from the source texts. My recommendation is to get this version of the Poetic Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Edda-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199675341/ref=mp_s_a_1_1) and this version of the Prose Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Edda-Everymans-Library-Snorri-Sturluson/dp/0460876163/ref=mp_s_a_1_1). Give those a read and I’d be interested to hear whether you are inspired to update your theory.

Loki is a particularly intriguing character who may be a hypostasis of Odin according to one theory, may be one of Odin’s brothers who assisted in the creation of mankind according to another, and may be related to common-class folklore about a tricky hero who upsets the order imposed by nobility according to yet another. It’s unclear why he is portrayed as a helpful character and friend to the other gods in certain myths, and as a downright murderous villain in others. I’m personally pretty skeptical about the idea that he could be adapted from Jesus, but far be it from me to discourage out-of-the-box thinking :)

My recommendation is to get this version of the Poetic Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Edda-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199675341/ref=mp_s_a_1_1) and this version of the Prose Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Edda-Everymans-Library-Snorri-Sturluson/dp/0460876163/ref=mp_s_a_1_1). Both come in hardcover.

The vast majority of Norse myths come from two books that are surprisingly accessible to modern audiences if you have a good translation. And as it so happens, they are also pretty cheap!

My recommendation is to get this version of the Poetic Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Edda-Oxford-Worlds-Classics/dp/0199675341/ref=mp_s_a_1_1) and this version of the Prose Edda (https://www.amazon.com/Edda-Everymans-Library-Snorri-Sturluson/dp/0460876163/ref=mp_s_a_1_1).

This Poetic Edda and this Prose Edda

The Poetic Edda translated by Carolyne Larrington, 2014 and the Prose Edda translated by Anthony Faulkes, 1995 ;)

The vast majority of Norse mythology (including all of the myths you will ever encounter in popular media) is contained in two books: the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda.

The Poetic Edda is a collection of poetry about gods and heroes that was largely composed during the pagan era. The Prose Edda is a medieval scholarly work that recounts ancient myths in an effort to educate people on the references found in pagan poetry. You can read modern retellings, but these invariably alter the source material in ways the original composers of the ancient poetry did not intend. I highly recommend reading the actual sources rather than any modern retellings. Specifically:

This version of the Poetic Edda and this version of the Prose Edda.

You’re graduating, friend. Time to read the two books all these stories actually came from:

The Poetic Edda and The Prose Edda

Well you're asking in r/norsemythology so I'm going to recommend you get him the two main sources of Norse Mythology: the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda.

Try this translation. Much easier to understand.

https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Edda-Stories-Hackett-Classics/dp/1624663567/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=3AKEPI0AV2MIN&keywords=poetic+edda&qid=1656865069&sprefix=poetic+eddas%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-1

The Essential Rumi, New Expanded Edition Paperback – May 28, 2004 by Jalal al-Din Rumi (Author), Coleman Barks (Translator), John Moyne (Translator)

Google Books result

The translation by Professor Crawford is very readable. I also recommend professor Crawford’s you tube channel.

https://www.amazon.com/Poetic-Edda-Stories-Hackett-Classics/dp/1624663567/ref=sr_1_1?crid=8SBVIPPEI21Z&keywords=poetic+edda+jackson+crawford&qid=1640987866&sprefix=Poetic+Edda+%2Caps%2C60&sr=8-1

May The Gods Be With You.

Al

it is worth bearing in mind that the havamal shouldnt be taken as a perfect piece or perfect rules to follow - a lot of it is (understandably) outdated and theres a considerable amount of awful things written about women in there. its best taken as helpful suggestions and not mandatory commandments you should unquestioningly live by. parts of it are definitely more helpful and applicable than others.

i have this copy of the poetic edda and its beautiful.

Have you seen this one?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1624668356/

I'd never heard of it before, but I know of this guy. He's a linguist and professor of Nordic studies. He seriously knows his stuff.

This here is actually the exact version I had to read in high school. Each page spread has the Old English on the left and the modern English on the right, which is incredible for seeing how words changed over time. But yes, definitely check it out.

Jackson Crawford is always good.

For further reading Asatru for Beginners by Dr Mathias Nordvig is great. He's got a PHD in Norse Mythology and he's native Danish. He was actually raised Heathen. Very good book.

Dr Jackson Crawford is an excellent source. I follow him on YouTube and have a copy of his book, The Wanderer's Havamal . Excellent work and an easy read. I also follow The Wisdom of Odin on YouTube.

Jackson Crawford's translations are pretty well regarded and generally considered one of the go-tos

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1624663567/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_suksFb1FY2CC5

Also go and check out r/heathenry for some good resources as well!

The prose edda is pretty good, penguin has a print of it you can get off of amazon for pretty cheap. https://www.amazon.com/Prose-Edda-Mythology-Penguin-Classics/dp/0140447555

This is the one i'm talking about

There's also this one but the author tries to keep the poetic structure intact so it's a lot harder to understand, to me anyways.

My Old Norse professor's translation of the Poetic Edda is fantastic. Check it out here.

I like Dr. Jackson Crawford's translation. It's easy to read.

Link

I've only ever read the one version, but I thought the Penguin Classic one was a very readable translation and it's probably the easiest to find.

This might suit your needs, although it is merely fiction. John Gardner's alternate take on Beowulf, told from the perspective of the misunderstood monster Grendel is downright hilarious while also having a lot to say about existentialism. Of course, I'd recommend reading the Seamus Heaney translation of Beowulf first--and why not? The language is beautiful, and reading between the lines reveals how Christian Anglo-Saxons felt about their proto-Viking pagan ancestors. Give them both a whirl! Here's a link to each:

Beowulf, the Seamus Heaney translation

Grendel, by John Gardner

Also not a documentary, and not really a good enough response for a top-level comment, but the Prose Edda is surprisingly short, readable, and comprehensive. I'd really recommend OP just picking up a copy and having a read.

>> Had attempted a few times to read the Poetic Edda after finding it at the campus library, but never got myself to sit still long enough to do that

Same here, until I found a (translation) version that worked for me.

This version was easy to understand and felt more natural (for lack of a better description):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1624663567/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This translation of The Poetic Edda came out earlier this month. It is very readable.