- Háttatal
The Háttatal (c. 20,000 words) is the last section of the
Prose Edda composed by theIceland icpoet , politician, and historianSnorri Sturluson . Using, for the most part, his own compositions it exemplifies the types of verse forms used in Old Norse poetry. Snorri took a prescriptive as well as descriptive approach; he has systematized the material, and often notes that "the older poets didn't always" follow his rules.Most of the forms depend on number of syllables per line, as well as assonance, consonance, and alliteration. Although end rhyme is represented, it does not function in the ways most modern English speakers expect (forms include AAAAAAAA, and AAAABBBB), and plays a very minor role. Understanding this work will be much easier if
The First Grammatical Treatise is also available to hand.Many scholars have suggested that the form of "Háttatal" suggests a classical influence deriving from the traditions of Christian learning Snorri was doubtless exposed to. Others have argued that this is a result of using a logical approach, within the framework of a dialog, and that some aspects of the work prove that it was not directly influenced by classical writings.
External links
* [http://www.heimskringla.no/original/skaldekvad/hattatal.php Snorri Sturluson's Háttatal in the original language]
* [http://www.cybersamurai.net/Mythology/nordic_gods/LegendsSagas/Edda/ProseEdda/ContentsIcelandic.htm#hattae Háttatal, Old Norse]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
