The Armour Archive

I'm looking for instruction on how to compose in eddic form.

I've read several, of course, and while some elements are apparent (eg: heavy emphasis on alliteration and assonance to the disregard of rhyme, emphasis on rhythm but apparently not meter) I feel like I would either have to ape the Havamal or go off fumbling in the dark if I tried to piece together one of my own without more research in front of me.

Google is somewhat less than instructive. Can any here point me towards something helpful online, or perhaps someone?

Destichado wrote:I'm looking for instruction on how to compose in eddic form.

I've read several, of course, and while some elements are apparent (eg: heavy emphasis on alliteration and assonance to the disregard of rhyme, emphasis on rhythm but apparently not meter) I feel like I would either have to ape the Havamal or go off fumbling in the dark if I tried to piece together one of my own without more research in front of me.

Google is somewhat less than instructive. Can any here point me towards something helpful online, or perhaps someone?

Denewulf here on the Archive.

The introduction of Tolkien's translation of The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun has a VERY nice explanation of exactly what makes an Edda a unique form of poetry.

The first 15 or so pages are taken from his notes on a lecture he gave on The Elder Edda.

The forward by Christopher Tolkien has some good info in it as well.

If you're not a fan of his work, just go into a Barnes and Noble, get some coffee, grab the book off a shelf and take notes.