Dróttkvætt

The Dróttkvætt ("Hofton") is the strictest stanza form of the Old Norse skaldic poetry and, as it were, its main measure . 5/6 of all surviving texts are written in court tone.

structure

The structure of the Dróttkvætt is determined by half-verses , bars, internal rhymes and Kenningar . The form is binding.

Metric + Members

A stanza ("vísa") consists of 2 half-stanzas ("helmingr") each with four six-part half lines ("vísuorð"). In the anverse there must be two sticks ("stuðlar") on stressed syllables, in the abvers one stick ("höfuðstaðr") on the first syllable, with consonants stating with themselves and vowels with each other.

Internal rhymes

In each half verse there is an additional inner rhyme ("hending"), whereby here the consonance of sounds within rhyming words is meant. Every penultimate, stressed syllable participates in the inner rhyme. The rhyming partner must be ahead of a stressed syllable. In every odd half-verse the inner rhymes are half-rhymes ("skothending"), i. H. only consonant sounds match. In straight half-verses, however, the inner rhymes are full rhymes ("aðalhending"), i. H. Vowels and consonants are the same.

Kenningar

In addition, so-called Kenningar are essential in the Hofton. These are two- or more-syllable, figurative descriptions, which in the ideal case can only be deciphered with a special knowledge of the Old Norse mythology. Some Kenningar can also be deciphered from the context. Typically, each half strophe is determined by a Kenning, which can also have several parts or links.

Word order

Since the poet is relatively restricted by this strictness of form, his only alternative is the word order, which means that the syntax is not always easy to understand.

example

The example is a death price for the Danish Viking leader Sibbe, who is carved on the stone of Karlevi in the younger Futhark (runes). The bars are bold , the inner rhymes underlined and the Kenningar {in curly brackets}, with connected partial Kenningar being marked by +.

F olg inn liggr hinn's f ylg ðu
( f l est r vissi þat) m est ar
d áð ir { d olga þr uð ar
d r aug r} í þeimsi h aug i.
Mun-at { r eið -Viðurr} + r áð a
r ógost ark r í Danm ǫrk u
+ { E nd ils j ǫrmungr and ar}
ø rgr and ari l and i.

Hidden in this hill lies the warrior ("tree of the thrud of battles"), whom (most know that) the greatest deeds followed. A strong, irreproachable sea warrior ("Chariot Odin of the wide bottom of the Endill") will not rule over land in Denmark.

Lore

Many skald strophes are quoted in sagas or in the Snorra Edda , the skald textbook of Snorri Sturluson (1179–1241). In contrast to Edda songs, the skald stanzas are often given by the author's name.

Early forms can be found in Bragi Boddason (9th century), the first skaldic poet known by name and Egill Skallagrímsson, who lived around 900 to after 990.

literature

Th. Andersson, E. Marold: Karlevi . 2RGA 16, 2000, pp. 275-280.
Finnur Jónsson: Den Norsk-Islandske Skjaldendigtning , Bde. A I-II, B I-II. København / Kristiania 1912–1915

Web links

skaldic.usyd.edu.au text output
titus.uni-frankfurt.de Text edition

References and comments

↑ The six-part structure largely corresponds to a six-syllable structure with three accented letters, but it is not exactly the same.
↑ The consonant combinations sk, sp, st are an exception. They only stem with themselves, but not with s, while combos like kr or kl do with k. J is also treated as a vowel.

[sechs-1] The six-part structure largely corresponds to a six-syllable structure with three accented letters, but it is not exactly the same.

[stab-2] The consonant combinations sk, sp, st are an exception. They only stem with themselves, but not with s, while combos like kr or kl do with k. J is also treated as a vowel.