The Great Myths #22: The Story of Ragnarok in the Norse Eddas
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An episode from 12/23/22: How did the Viking Norse tell a story as important as Ragnarok (the end of the world) in poetry, and then in prose? What does prose require that poetry does not, and vice-versa, especially when the accounts we have are separated by centuries of historical change, and religious conversion?\\xa0
\\nIn this third episode on Norse Mythology, I read the story of Ragnarok from the Prose Edda (dating to c. 1220), and then its corresponding section in the poem Voluspa (c. 1000) in the Poetic Edda. Each section is preceded by the story of the death of Odin\'s son, Balder, which in many ways precipitated Ragnarok. I also read from a later poem, Balder\'s Dreams (c. 1300).
\\nThe translation of the Poetic Edda (and Balder\'s Dreams) that I read from is by Andy Orchard, and the Prose Edda by Anthony Faulkes. The commentary I read from throughout the episode comes from the translation and commentary by Ursula Dronke.
\\nThe essential reference books on Norse myth that I will be using for this series are John Lindow\\u2019s Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals & Beliefs, Rudolf Simek\\u2019s Dictionary of Northern Mythology, and Andy Orchard\\u2019s Cassell Dictionary of Norse Myth & Legend.
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\\nAny comments, or suggestions for readings I should make in later episodes, can be emailed to humanvoiceswakeus1@gmail.com.
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