Svipdagsmál

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The Svipdagsmál (in German Svipdagslied or Svipdags Sprüche ) is the modern title under which two late Eddic (gods) songs from the 13th to 14th centuries - Grógaldr and Fǫlsvinnsmál - are summarized. They deal with the bridal acquisition of the hero Svipdagr to Menglǫð in a mythical-fairytale framework.

The songs are written in the Eddic meter of Ljóðaháttr . They were passed down separately in some manuscripts and are not part of the Codex Regius der Lieder-Edda . The surviving (paper) manuscripts date from the 17th to 18th centuries, but all go back to a much older manuscript that has been lost today.

Since Sophus Bugge the songs have been called Svipdagsmál. The text forms a conglomerate of fairy tale motifs (stepmother, Sleeping Beauty and “Grail motifs” from Arthurian epic ) and echoes from Nordic mythology and structurally follows the bridal acquisition scheme. It also assumes the author's knowledge of the texts of the Song Edda , especially of the high medieval knowledge poetry such as the Vafþrúðnismál , to which he clearly orientates himself. In addition to Bugge, Svend Grundtvig also emphasized the fairytale character at the time. The Svipdagsmál forms by his young age compared to the Edda songs of the older and oldest layers, a transition to the Nordic Danish-Swedish folk ballads of Svejdal or Svendal , Ungen Svejdal . Other ballads that deal with courtship are the ballads by "Svend Vonved" and "Herr Tønne auf Alsø". The question of the transmission path from the level of textualization of the Eddic environment to the re-poetry in the environment of the folk ballads has not been clarified in research. A common lost template that already contained the "Grail motifs" is being considered.

Fjǫlsvinnsmál

The Fjǫlsvinnsmál ("Fjǫlsviðs Sprüche") comprises 50 stanzas. On the bridal trip, the hero reaches Menglǫð, who lives on a castle or mountain surrounded by a Waberlohe and also guarded by the giant Fjǫlsvinnr (" know-it-all "). Svipdagr has to face this, but disguises itself with the code name Vindkaldr ("wind cold") and asks the giant 18 questions about the secrets of the castle and mythological issues. In the course of the conversation, the hero's true magical name is mentioned, so that the way is immediately cleared, the gates of the castle open and Menglǫð welcomes him as bridegroom.

Grógaldr

The Grógaldr (“Magic Song of the Gróa”) describes the youth of Svipdagr in 16 stanzas . The heroic protagonist is sent by his wicked stepmother on the long and dangerous journey - the bridal trip around Menglǫð. Out of the difficult situation he awakens his deceased, magical mother Gróa from death in order to ask her advice and magic power. She gives him nine spells with him on the way, including effective against enemies, demons, the dangers of nature and stalking by a "dead Christian".

The spells are described in a stanza only according to their content, but not with the incantatio , that is, the magic or incantation formula. Verse 13 with the protection against the stereotyping of the spirit or revenant of a deceased "Christian" seems unusual, which Andreas Heusler wants to understand as a thoughtful means of the anonymous author to enrich the material with a "pagan-ancient note". In terms of material, the Grógaldr is closely related to the ballad of “Ungen Svejdal”. In contrast to Fjǫlsvinnsmál, both of them lack the passage of the questions of knowledge to the giant. In addition, the conception and design of the fable make the ballad a so-called "pansy tale".

literature

Editions and translations
  • Gustav Neckel : Edda. The songs of the Codex Regius and related monuments. 1st text, 2nd revised edition, Carl Winter University Press, Heidelberg 1927.
  • Felix Genzmer : The Edda. Poetry of gods, proverbs and heroic songs of the Germanic peoples. Eugen Diedrichs Verlag, Munich 2006, ISBN 978-3-7205-2759-0 .
Research literature

Remarks

  1. ↑ NkS 1111, fol. [Ny kgl. Samling, Copenhagen]; SKB pap., Fol. 34 [Stockholm's Royal Bibl.]; SKB pap., 8vo 15; AM 738, 4 tons