Hrafnsmál

Hrafnsmál (Old Norse: [ˈhrɑvnsˌmɑːl]; "raven song") is a fragmentary skaldic poem generally accepted as being written by the 9th-century Norwegian skald Þorbjörn Hornklofi. Hrafnsmál largely consists of a conversation between an unnamed valkyrie and a raven; the two discuss the life and martial deeds of Harald Fairhair. Due to this, the poem is sometimes referred to as Haraldskvæði[1] [ˈhɑrɑldsˌkwɛːðe]. The meter of the poem is dominantly Málaháttr, while smaller portions are in Ljóðaháttr and Fornyrðislag.[2] Through dating of the parts as well as the meter is consistent, they may be separate compositions but scholarly consensus is indecisive. The poem is usually described as a praise poem, but bears more resemblance in style to the Eddic poems.[3] In style, it so much resembles Atlakviða (one of the oldest Eddic poems) that it has been suggested they were both composed by Hornklofi.[4][5][6] Stanzas from the poem were reworked into a song by Einar Selvik for the game Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

A valkyrie speaks with a raven in a wood-engraving by Joseph Swain after Frederick Sandys, 1862

Editions and translations
  • Borrow, George (Trans.) (1862). Once A Week: An Illustrated Miscellany of Literature, Art, Science &Popular Information. Vol. VII. June to December, 1862. London: Bradbury & Evans, 11, Bouverie Street. Entitled Harald Harfagr. Features an illustration by Anthony Frederick Augustus Sandys.
  • Kershaw, Nora (1922). Anglo-Saxon and Norse Poems. Cambridge at the University Press.
  • Hollander, Lee Milton (1980). Old Norse Poems: The Most Important Nonskaldic Verse Not Included in the Poetic Edda. Forgotten Books. ISBN 1-60506-715-6
  • Fulk, R. D. (2012). "Þorbjǫrn hornklofi, Haraldskvæði (Hrafnsmál)". In Whaley, Diana (ed.). Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 1: From Mythical Times to c. 1035. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 1. Turnhout: Brepols. p. 91. ISBN 978-2-503-51896-1.

See also
  • Huginn and Muninn, the ravens of the god Odin
  • Valravn, a supernatural "raven of the slain" appearing in 19th century Danish folk songs

Notes
  1. Orchard (1997:89).
  2. Hollander (1980:54).
  3. R. D. Fulk 2012, ‘(Introduction to) Þorbjǫrn hornklofi, Haraldskvæði (Hrafnsmál)’ in Diana Whaley (ed.), Poetry from the Kings’ Sagas 1: From Mythical Times to c. 1035. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 1. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 91.
  4. Fidjestøl, Bjarne. 1976c. ‘Kongsskalden frå Kvinesdal og diktninga hans’. In Try 1976, 7-31.
  5. Reichardt, Konstantin. 1926. ‘Der Dichter der Atlakviða’. ANF 42, 323-6.
  6. Genzmer, Felix. 1926. ‘Der Dichter der Atlakviða’. ANF 42, 97-134.

References
  • Hollander, Lee Milton (1980). Old Norse Poems: The Most Important Nonskaldic Verse Not Included in the Poetic Edda. Forgotten Books. ISBN 1-60506-715-6
  • Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-34520-2
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