The Poetics of Commemoration: Skaldic Verse and Social Memory, c. 890-1070 (Oxford English Monographs)

1 Remembering ancestors: Ynglingatal and the early Scandinavian kings -- 2 The afterlife of kings: Eiríkr blóđøx, Hákon inn góđi, and Óláfr Tryggvason -- 3 Changing patrons: the poets of Haraldr gráfeldr and Hákon inn góđi -- 4 Eligy, hagiography and advice to princes: the commemoration of Óláfr inn helgi -- 5 Divided loyalties: Arnórr jaslaskáld and the Jarls of Orkney -- Conclusion.;The poetics of commemoration is a study of commemorative skaldic verse from the Viking Age. It investigates how skaldic poets responded to the deaths of kings and the ways in which poetic commemoration functioned within the social and political communities of the early medieval court. Beginning with the early genealogical poem Ynglingatal, the book explores how the commemoration of a king's ancestors could be used to consolidate his political position and to provide a shared history for the community. It then examines the presentation of dead kings in the poems Eiriksmal and Hakonarmal, showing how poets could re-cast their kings as characters of myth and legend in the afterlife. This is followed by an analysis of verse in which poets use their commemoration of one king to reinforce their relationship with his successor; it is shown that poetry could both help and hinder the integration of the poet into the retinue of a new king. Focusing then on the memorial poems composed for Kings Olafr Tryggvason and Olafr Haraldsson, as well as for the Jarls of the Orkney Islands, the book considers the tension between public and private expressions of grief. It explores the strategies used by poets to negotiate the tumultuous period that followed the death of a king, and to work through their own emotional responses to that loss. The book demonstrates that skaldic poets engaged with the deaths of rulers in a wide variety of ways, and that poetic commemoration was a particularly effective means not only of constructing a collective memory of the dead man, but also of consolidating the new social identity of the community he left behind. Þthe Poetics Of Commemorationþ Is A Study Of Commemorative Skaldic Verse From The Viking Age. It Investigates How Skaldic Poets Responded To The Deaths Of Kings And The Ways In Which Poetic Commemoration Functioned Within The Social And Political Communities Of The Early Medieval Court. Beginning With The Early Genealogical Poem Ynglingatal, The Book Explores How The Commemoration Of A King's Ancestors Could Be Used To Consolidate His Political Position And To Provide A Shared History For The Community. It Then Examines The Presentation Of Dead Kings In The Poems Eiriksmal And Hakonarmal, Showing How Poets Could Re-cast Their Kings As Characters Of Myth And Legend In The Afterlife. This Is Followed By An Analysis Of Verse In Which Poets Use Their Commemoration Of One King To Reinforce Their Relationship With His Successor; It Is Shown That Poetry Could Both Help And Hinder The Integration Of The Poet Into The Retinue Of A New King. Focusing Then On The Memorial Poems Composed For Kings Olafr Tryggvason And Olafr Haraldsson, As Well As For The Jarls Of The Orkney Islands, The Book Considers The Tension Between Public And Private Expressions Of Grief.0it Explores The Strategies Used By Poets To Negotiate The Tumultuous Period That Followed The Death Of A King, And To Work Through Their Own Emotional Responses To That Loss. The Book Demonstrates That Skaldic Poets Engaged With The Deaths Of Rulers In A Wide Variety Of Ways, And That Poetic Commemoration Was A Particularly Effective Means Not Only Of Constructing A Collective Memory Of The Dead Man, But Also Of Consolidating The New Social Identity Of The Community He Left Behind. 1 Remembering Ancestors: Ynglingatal And The Early Scandinavian Kings -- 2 The Afterlife Of Kings: Eiríkr Blóđøx, Hákon Inn Góđi, And Óláfr Tryggvason -- 3 Changing Patrons: The Poets Of Haraldr Gráfeldr And Hákon Inn Góđi -- 4 Eligy, Hagiography And Advice To Princes: The Commemoration Of Óláfr Inn Helgi -- 5 Divided Loyalties: Arnórr Jaslaskáld And The Jarls Of Orkney -- Conclusion. Erin Michelle Goeres. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The Poetics of Commemoration is a study of commemorative skaldic verse from the Viking Age. It investigates how skaldic poets responded to the deaths of kings and the ways in which poetic commemoration functioned within the social and political communities of the early medieval court. Beginning with the early genealogical poem Ynglingatal, the book explores how the commemoration of a king's ancestors could be used to consolidate his political position and to provide a shared history for the community. It then examines the presentation of dead kings in the poems Eiríksmál and Hákonarmál, showing how poets could re-cast their kings as characters of myth and legend in the afterlife. This is followed by an analysis of verse in which poets use their commemoration of one king to reinforce their relationship with his successor; it is shown that poetry could both help and hinder the integration of the poet into the retinue of a new king. Focusing then on the memorial poems composed for Kings Óláfr Tryggvason and Óláfr Haraldsson, as well as for the Jarls of the Orkney Islands, the book considers the tension between public and private expressions of grief. It explores the strategies used by poets to negotiate the tumultuous period that followed the death of a king, and to work through their own emotional responses to that loss. The book demonstrates that skaldic poets engaged with the deaths of rulers in a wide variety of ways, and that poetic commemoration was a particularly effective means not only of constructing a collective memory of the dead man, but also of consolidating the new social identity of the community he left behind. Cover 1 The Poetics of Commemoration: Skaldic Verse and Social Memory, c. 890-1070 4 Copyright 5 Acknowledgements 6 Contents 8 A Note on Translations 10 Introduction 14 Theories of Social Memory 16 Skalds and Social Memory 21 Skaldic Commemoration 24 The Poetics of Commemoration 27 1: Remembering Ancestors: Ynglingatal and the Early Scandinavian Kings 32 A Genealogical Charter 33 The Structure of the Poem 38 Powerless Kings and the Riddle of Death 39 Riddles of the Supernatural 47 Women: the Ultimate Riddle? 49 Monuments and Memory 60 2: The Afterlife of Kings: Eiríkr blóðøx, Hákon inn góði, and Óláfr Tryggvason 67 Eiríksmál and Hákonarmál 68 Erfidrápa Óláfs Tryggvasonar 87 3: Changing Patrons: The Poets of Haraldr gráfeldr and Hákon inn góði 98 Gráfeldardrápa 100 Lausavísur on the Death of King Hákon Inn Gói 108 4: Elegy, Hagiography, and Advice to Princes: The Commemoration of Óláfr inn helgi 124 Glælognskvia 126 Sigvatr Þórarson 133 Erfidrápa Óláfs Helga 136 Lausavísur 144 Bersglisvísur 148 5: Divided Loyalties: Arnórr jarlaskáld and the Jarls of Orkney 159 Magnússdrápa and Haraldsdrápa 163 Rgnvaldsdrápa and Þorfinnsdrápa 167 Conclusion 184 Bibliography 188 Primary sources 188 Secondary sources 188 Index 202 Content: Introduction 1: Remembering Ancestors: Ynglingatal and the early Scandinavian Kings 2: The Afterlife of Kings: Eirikr blodox, Hakon inn godi and Olafr Tryggvason 3: Changing Patrons: The Poets of Haraldr grafeldr and Hakon inn godi 4: Elegy, Hagiography, and Advice to Princes: The Commemoration of Olafr inn helgi 5: Divided Loyalties: Arnorr jarlaskald and the Jarls of Orkney Conclusion Bibliography 'The Poetics of Commemoration' is a study of the role poetry played in the commemoration of kings during the Viking age, investigating the variety of ways in which poets responded to the death of a king, and how poetry helped to construct a shared memory and identity for the community he left behind