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skaldic

Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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Note to Anon Líkn 42VII

[6] brjótr hnossa ‘breaker of hammered ornaments’: Cf. hodda brjótr ‘breaker of treasure’ Geisl 37/7. Hnoss ‘hammered ornament’ (CVC probably from OE hnossian ‘to hammer’) recalls the theme of hammering introduced with viðum hnossa ‘trees of hammered ornament [MEN]’ in the stef (13/6, 17/6, 21/6, 25/6 and 29/6) and made central at the Crucifixion in st. 16. The two ‘generous man’-kennings, though built upon ideal princely conduct, are ironic in their insufficiency when set against the boundless munificence of Christ’s mercy. Through his embrace he offers, not hammered gold, but himself hammered to the Cross.

References

  1. Bibliography
  2. CVC = Cleasby, Richard, Gudbrand Vigfusson [Guðbrandur Vigfússon] and W. A. Craigie. 1957. An Icelandic-English Dictionary. 2nd edn. Oxford: Clarendon.
  3. Internal references
  4. Martin Chase (ed.) 2007, ‘Einarr Skúlason, Geisli 37’ in Margaret Clunies Ross (ed.), Poetry on Christian Subjects. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 7. Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 37-8.

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