The home of the Eddic poems

“The Home of the Eddic Poems” is a scholarly work by Sophus Bugge, originally published in Norwegian in 1867. The book explores the historical context and origin of the Eddic poems, a collection of Old Norse poems written between the 9th and 13th centuries.

The book is divided into two main parts. The first part provides an overview of the Eddic poems, including their themes, structure, and historical context. The second part delves deeper into the history and origins of the poems.

In the first part of the book, Bugge describes the Eddic poems as a collection of heroic and mythological poems that were transmitted orally for centuries before being written down. He notes that the poems are characterized by a distinctive style and structure, with many of them featuring a refrain or chorus.

Bugge also explores the historical context of the Eddic poems, describing the social and cultural milieu in which they were created. He argues that the poems reflect a society in which the warrior class held a position of great importance and that they provide insight into the religious beliefs and customs of the pre-Christian Norse.

In the second part of the book, Bugge delves deeper into the history and origins of the Eddic poems. He examines the linguistic and stylistic features of the poems, as well as their relationship to other Old Norse literature.

One of the key arguments that Bugge makes in the book is that the Eddic poems were not composed in Iceland, as many scholars had previously believed. Instead, he argues that they were composed in Norway and then transmitted to Iceland, where they were eventually written down.

Bugge also explores the relationship between the Eddic poems and other Old Norse literature, such as the sagas and skaldic poetry. He argues that the Eddic poems represent an earlier stage of Old Norse literature than the sagas and skaldic poetry, and that they were likely composed by a different group of poets.

Throughout the book, Bugge uses linguistic and textual analysis to support his arguments. He examines the use of specific words and phrases in the poems, as well as the structure and style of the poetry itself. He also draws on historical and archaeological evidence to support his conclusions.

Overall, “The Home of the Eddic Poems” is an important work of scholarship that has had a significant impact on the study of Old Norse literature. Bugge’s arguments about the origin and history of the Eddic poems continue to be debated by scholars today, but his work remains a valuable resource for anyone interested in the subject.