# Poetic Edda

> collection of Old Norse poems

**Wikidata**: [Q205874](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q205874)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetic_Edda)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/poetic-edda

## Summary
The Poetic Edda is a collection of Old Norse poems and one of the two primary medieval Icelandic literary sources known as the Edda. Also referred to as the Elder Edda or Sæmundar Edda, this literary work is a written creation intended for reading, valued for both entertainment and intellectual enrichment. Dating to approximately 1260, it serves as a distinct type of work of art composed of text, preserved in manuscripts such as the AM 748 I 4to fragment.

## Key Facts
- **Publication Date:** Approximately 1260.
- **Aliases:** Also known as the Elder Edda or Sæmundar Edda.
- **Classification:** Classified as a literary work and a type of work of art; it is a subclass of written work.
- **Parent Entity:** It is one of the pair of medieval Icelandic literary sources referred to as the Edda.
- **Contents:** Contains numerous poems including Völuspá, Hávamál, Völundarkviða, Grímnismál, and Þrymskviða.
- **Manuscript Source:** Related to the Icelandic vellum manuscript fragment AM 748 I 4to.
- **Sitelink Count:** Has a sitelink count of 60.
- **Identifiers:**
  - VIAF ID: 177803146
  - Open Library ID: OL92249W
  - Library of Congress ID: 6784793
  - Babel ID: 03570592n
  - BNF ID: 1054
  - BNE ID: 3896480
  - NLA ID: 510135
  - CyberLeninka ID: starshaia-edda-03b84f
- **Wikidata Properties:** Associated with properties including P214, P373, P646, P648, P839, P1085, P1417, P2581, P4342, P4549, P6058, P6385, P7305, P7502, P8211, P8896, and P11514.
- **Literary Classification:** It is distinct from the general term "Werk" and is separate from "version, edition or translation" or "fiction."

## FAQs
**What is the Poetic Edda?**
The Poetic Edda is a collection of Old Norse poems and a medieval Icelandic literary source, often paired with the Prose Edda under the general name "Edda." It is a literary work created for enjoyment and edification, composed of text and classified as a type of work of art.

**What poems are included in the Poetic Edda?**
The collection includes a wide array of poems such as Völuspá, Hávamál, Völundarkviða, Grímnismál, Þrymskviða, Baldrs draumar, Alvíssmál, and Hyndluljóð. It also contains heroic poems like Atlakviða, Atlamál, and Guðrúnarhvöt, as well as fragmentary works like Brot af Sigurðarkviðu.

**When was the Poetic Edda written?**
The Poetic Edda has a publication date estimated at around 1260.

**What are the other names for the Poetic Edda?**
The work is also known by the aliases "Elder Edda" and "Sæmundar Edda."

**What is the relationship between the Poetic Edda and the Edda?**
The Poetic Edda is one of the two medieval Icelandic literary sources that make up the Edda, serving as a specific instance of this broader literary pair.

**How is the Poetic Edda classified as a literary work?**
As a literary work, the Poetic Edda is defined as a written creation intended for reading, distinct from non-literary texts like manuals. It is a subclass of written work and an instance of a work of art, maintained by projects like WikiProject Books.

## Why It Matters
The Poetic Edda is central to the preservation of Old Norse poetry and medieval Icelandic literature. As a literary work, it serves as a vessel for cultural expression, storytelling, and philosophical exploration, offering insight into the human condition of the era. Its classification as a distinct work of art underscores its value in education and research, providing a primary source for understanding language, history, and mythology. The meticulous cataloging of its poems and identifiers ensures its accessibility and scholarly engagement, making it a foundational component of global literary heritage.

## Notable For
- Being one of the two primary medieval Icelandic literary sources comprising the Edda.
- Containing the poem Völuspá, which has a high sitelink count of 44.
- Containing the poem Hávamál, which has a sitelink count of 35.
- Being associated with the manuscript fragment AM 748 I 4to.
- Having a significant number of cross-language connections and identifiers, including VIAF, Open Library, and Library of Congress IDs.
- Being distinct from the general term "Werk" and separate entities like "version, edition or translation."
- Maintaining a specific publication date of c. 1260.
- Including Hyndluljóð, a poem often considered part of the collection despite varying classifications.

## Body

### Composition and Contents
The Poetic Edda is a comprehensive collection of Old Norse poems, serving as a major component of medieval Icelandic literature. It encompasses a diverse range of poetic works, including mythological and heroic narratives. Notable poems within the collection include Völuspá and Hávamál, which are among the most recognized entries with sitelink counts of 44 and 35, respectively. Other significant poems include Grímnismál (25 sitelinks), Baldrs draumar (22 sitelinks), Þrymskviða (21 sitelinks), and Hyndluljóð (20 sitelinks).

The collection also features numerous other poems such as Völundarkviða, Alvíssmál, Sigrdrífumál, Atlakviða, Fáfnismál, Svipdagsmál, Guðrúnarhvöt, Reginsmál, Brot af Sigurðarkviðu, Grípisspá, Oddrúnargrátr, Atlamál, Hamðismál, Rígsþula, and Helreið Brynhildar. The poem Hyndluljóð is specifically noted as an Old Norse poem often considered part of the Poetic Edda. The text is preserved in part by the Icelandic vellum manuscript fragment AM 748 I 4to, which contains several Eddaic poems.

### Classification and Nature
As a literary work, the Poetic Edda is defined as a written creation intended for reading, valued for both enjoyment and edification. It is classified as a type of work of art and a subclass of written work, distinguishing it from non-artistic texts. The work is a manifestation of literature, created through the process of writing, and is composed of text. It is distinct from the concepts of "version, edition or translation" and "fiction," which are treated as separate entities.

The Poetic Edda is also distinct from the general term "Werk," ensuring clarity in classification. It is maintained by WikiProject Books and is associated with the "Category: Literary works." The work is linked to the broader field of literature and is connected to specific templates like "Template:Infobox literary work" for structured documentation.

### Historical Context and Relationships
The Poetic Edda is one of the two medieval Icelandic literary sources that form the Edda, the other being the Prose Edda. This relationship places it within a critical framework for understanding Norse mythology and legend. The work has a publication date of approximately 1260, situating it in the medieval period.

Its relationship to the manuscript fragment AM 748 I 4to highlights its physical preservation history. The collection is part of the broader category of "literary works," which are foundational to the field of literature and are studied for their cultural and academic significance.

### Identifiers and Metadata
The Poetic Edda is cataloged with extensive metadata and identifiers, reflecting its importance in digital and cultural archives. These identifiers facilitate its recognition across various systems:
- **VIAF:** 177803146
- **Open Library:** OL92249W
- **Freebase:** /m/0j9y9
- **Library of Congress:** 6784793
- **Britannica:** art/Poetic-Edda
- **Babel:** 03570592n
- **Danish:** Den_eldre_Edda
- **BNF:** 1054
- **Universalis:** litterature/Edda_poétique/173060
- **Russian:** kultura_i_obrazovanie/literatura/EDDI.html
- **BNE:** 3896480
- **VIAF Cluster:** Poetic_Edda-VX4VN
- **NLA:** 510135
- **BNE (Alternative):** 8-8351
- **CyberLeninka:** starshaia-edda-03b84f

Additionally, it is associated with the Wikidata properties P214, P373, P646, P648, P839, P1085, P1417, P2581, P4342, P4549, P6058, P6385, P7305, P7502, P8211, P8896, and P11514. The work has a sitelink count of 60 and a Wikipedia title of "Poetic Edda." It is also linked to the "Category:Edda, Poetic" on Wikimedia Commons.

## References

1. BabelNet
2. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Poetic_Edda-VX4VN)