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skaldic

Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages

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HSt Frag 4III

Edith Marold (ed.) 2017, ‘Hallar-Steinn, Fragments 4’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 205.

Hallar-SteinnFragments
345

munt ‘will’

(not checked:)
munu (verb): will, must

Close

fúrs ‘of the fire’

(not checked:)
fúrr (noun m.): fire

[1] fúrs: fús U

kennings

Grǫnn hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs,
‘Slender guarding-Sif of the fire of the sea, ’
   = WOMAN

the fire of the sea, → GOLD
Slender guarding-Sif of the GOLD → WOMAN

notes

[1, 2] hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs ‘guarding-Sif <goddess> of the fire of the sea [GOLD > WOMAN]’: Sif is the wife of Þórr. The kenning consists of the base-word (which is compounded with the verbal stem hirði- ‘guard, look after’) and a gold-kenning which depends syntactically on the verbal stem hirði. A similarly constructed kenning is found in VGl Lv 7/1, 2V (Glúm 7) hirði-Sif virkis víns ‘the guarding-Sif <goddess> of the stronghold of wine [WINE VAT > WOMAN]’.

Close

fúrs ‘of the fire’

(not checked:)
fúrr (noun m.): fire

[1] fúrs: fús U

kennings

Grǫnn hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs,
‘Slender guarding-Sif of the fire of the sea, ’
   = WOMAN

the fire of the sea, → GOLD
Slender guarding-Sif of the GOLD → WOMAN

notes

[1, 2] hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs ‘guarding-Sif <goddess> of the fire of the sea [GOLD > WOMAN]’: Sif is the wife of Þórr. The kenning consists of the base-word (which is compounded with the verbal stem hirði- ‘guard, look after’) and a gold-kenning which depends syntactically on the verbal stem hirði. A similarly constructed kenning is found in VGl Lv 7/1, 2V (Glúm 7) hirði-Sif virkis víns ‘the guarding-Sif <goddess> of the stronghold of wine [WINE VAT > WOMAN]’.

Close

sem ‘just like’

(not checked:)
sem (conj.): as, which

notes

[1] sem fleiri ‘just like other’: Lit. ‘just like more’.

Close

fleiri ‘other’

(not checked:)
fleiri (adj. comp.; °superl. flestr): more, most

kennings

fleiri tróður grjóts Hjaðninga.
‘other poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar. ’
   = VALKYRIES

the stones of the Hjaðningar. → CORPSES
other poles of CORPSES → VALKYRIES

notes

[1] sem fleiri ‘just like other’: Lit. ‘just like more’.

Close

flóðs ‘of the sea’

(not checked:)
2. flóð (noun n.): flood

kennings

Grǫnn hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs,
‘Slender guarding-Sif of the fire of the sea, ’
   = WOMAN

the fire of the sea, → GOLD
Slender guarding-Sif of the GOLD → WOMAN

notes

[1, 2] hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs ‘guarding-Sif <goddess> of the fire of the sea [GOLD > WOMAN]’: Sif is the wife of Þórr. The kenning consists of the base-word (which is compounded with the verbal stem hirði- ‘guard, look after’) and a gold-kenning which depends syntactically on the verbal stem hirði. A similarly constructed kenning is found in VGl Lv 7/1, 2V (Glúm 7) hirði-Sif virkis víns ‘the guarding-Sif <goddess> of the stronghold of wine [WINE VAT > WOMAN]’.

Close

flóðs ‘of the sea’

(not checked:)
2. flóð (noun n.): flood

kennings

Grǫnn hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs,
‘Slender guarding-Sif of the fire of the sea, ’
   = WOMAN

the fire of the sea, → GOLD
Slender guarding-Sif of the GOLD → WOMAN

notes

[1, 2] hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs ‘guarding-Sif <goddess> of the fire of the sea [GOLD > WOMAN]’: Sif is the wife of Þórr. The kenning consists of the base-word (which is compounded with the verbal stem hirði- ‘guard, look after’) and a gold-kenning which depends syntactically on the verbal stem hirði. A similarly constructed kenning is found in VGl Lv 7/1, 2V (Glúm 7) hirði-Sif virkis víns ‘the guarding-Sif <goddess> of the stronghold of wine [WINE VAT > WOMAN]’.

Close

hirði ‘guarding’

(not checked:)
hirða (verb): hide, care for < hirðisif (noun f.)

[2] hirði‑Sif: ‘hir[…]’ U

kennings

Grǫnn hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs,
‘Slender guarding-Sif of the fire of the sea, ’
   = WOMAN

the fire of the sea, → GOLD
Slender guarding-Sif of the GOLD → WOMAN

notes

[1, 2] hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs ‘guarding-Sif <goddess> of the fire of the sea [GOLD > WOMAN]’: Sif is the wife of Þórr. The kenning consists of the base-word (which is compounded with the verbal stem hirði- ‘guard, look after’) and a gold-kenning which depends syntactically on the verbal stem hirði. A similarly constructed kenning is found in VGl Lv 7/1, 2V (Glúm 7) hirði-Sif virkis víns ‘the guarding-Sif <goddess> of the stronghold of wine [WINE VAT > WOMAN]’.

Close

Sif ‘Sif’

(not checked:)
2. Sif (noun f.): Sif < hirðisif (noun f.)

[2] hirði‑Sif: ‘hir[…]’ U

kennings

Grǫnn hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs,
‘Slender guarding-Sif of the fire of the sea, ’
   = WOMAN

the fire of the sea, → GOLD
Slender guarding-Sif of the GOLD → WOMAN

notes

[1, 2] hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs ‘guarding-Sif <goddess> of the fire of the sea [GOLD > WOMAN]’: Sif is the wife of Þórr. The kenning consists of the base-word (which is compounded with the verbal stem hirði- ‘guard, look after’) and a gold-kenning which depends syntactically on the verbal stem hirði. A similarly constructed kenning is found in VGl Lv 7/1, 2V (Glúm 7) hirði-Sif virkis víns ‘the guarding-Sif <goddess> of the stronghold of wine [WINE VAT > WOMAN]’.

Close

tróður ‘poles’

(not checked:)
tróða (noun f.; °-u): stick

[2] tróður: so A, tróðar R, tróða Tˣ, W, C, ‘troþ[…]’ U

kennings

fleiri tróður grjóts Hjaðninga.
‘other poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar. ’
   = VALKYRIES

the stones of the Hjaðningar. → CORPSES
other poles of CORPSES → VALKYRIES

notes

[2, 4] tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar <Heðinn and his followers> [CORPSES > VALKYRIES]’: There have been various attempts to interpret this puzzling kenning. The problem is the phrase grjóts Hjaðninga ‘of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ (grjót is a collective noun ‘stones’). The Hjaðningar are the warriors of Heðinn, who fights a never-ending battle known as the Hjaðningavíg ‘battle of the Hjaðningar’ against Hǫgni, the father of Heðinn’s beloved (Hildr). Skm (SnE 1998, I, 72) describes how the corpses of the warriors, as well as their weapons, all turn to stone, only to come to life again in the morning and continue fighting. Three explanations for this kenning have been suggested, none of which is fully satisfactory. (a) The determinant kenning ‘stones of the Hjaðningar’ is a kenning for ‘weapons’ (SnE 1848-87, III, 73; NN §3240). Weapons, however, are not attested as determinants in traditional woman-kennings (see Meissner 413-18; cf. also the criticism in LP: grjót). (b) Kock (NN §3240) attempts to interpret the kenning as an expression for ‘valkyries’ (‘poles of weapons’). From the narrative of the slain and their weapons turning to stone, one can derive not only the meaning ‘weapon’ but also ‘the slain’ or ‘corpses’, i.e. valr. The kenning tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ would then be a term for ‘valkyries’ (adopted in this edn), despite the fact that ‘weapons’ and ‘battle’ are more typical determinants of valkyrie-kennings. The problem with this interpretation (and also with the interpretation given under (a) above) is that such base-words as tróða ‘pole’, which denote a pole or a staff or similar, are not attested elsewhere in kennings for valkyries (cf. Meissner 396-8). (c) The kenning could refer to a valuable decoration or ornament (LP: Hjaðningar). Such an interpretation is supported by the legendary motif that prompted the battle between Heðinn and Hǫgni: Hildr offers, but then withdraws, a conciliatory gift, a precious ring, to her father (see SnE 1998, I, 72). According to this interpretation, then, the kenning would be a regular woman-kenning with an ornament as the determinant. That legend, however, specifically mentions a ring and not a decorative stone. Assuming that the kenning is correctly interpreted as ‘valkyrie’ (cf. Marold 1990b, 201 Anm. 35), the sense of the stanza is ‘you struggle against your luck, just like other valkyries’. This might allude to the Helgi legends, where a valkyrie (Sigrún, Sváva) acts against her lover and plots his death; Hildr also brings about a struggle between her father and her lover Heðinn. An allusion to a general hostility on the part of the valkyries toward men could be conceivable as well (cf. Þhorn Hkv 2/2-3I verar né óru þekkir inni framsóttu feimu ‘men were not pleasing to the aggressive maid’).

Close

grǫnn ‘Slender’

(not checked:)
grannr (adj.; °compar. -ari): slender

[3] grǫnn: grunn A

kennings

Grǫnn hirði-Sif fúrs flóðs,
‘Slender guarding-Sif of the fire of the sea, ’
   = WOMAN

the fire of the sea, → GOLD
Slender guarding-Sif of the GOLD → WOMAN
Close

við ‘against’

(not checked:)
2. við (prep.): with, against

[3] við: ‘[…]’ U, at C

Close

gæfu ‘luck’

(not checked:)
gæfa (noun f.): luck, fortune

Close

þinni ‘your’

(not checked:)
þinn (pron.; °f. þín, n. þitt): your

Close

grjóts ‘of the stones’

(not checked:)
grjót (noun n.): rock, stone

kennings

fleiri tróður grjóts Hjaðninga.
‘other poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar. ’
   = VALKYRIES

the stones of the Hjaðningar. → CORPSES
other poles of CORPSES → VALKYRIES

notes

[2, 4] tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar <Heðinn and his followers> [CORPSES > VALKYRIES]’: There have been various attempts to interpret this puzzling kenning. The problem is the phrase grjóts Hjaðninga ‘of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ (grjót is a collective noun ‘stones’). The Hjaðningar are the warriors of Heðinn, who fights a never-ending battle known as the Hjaðningavíg ‘battle of the Hjaðningar’ against Hǫgni, the father of Heðinn’s beloved (Hildr). Skm (SnE 1998, I, 72) describes how the corpses of the warriors, as well as their weapons, all turn to stone, only to come to life again in the morning and continue fighting. Three explanations for this kenning have been suggested, none of which is fully satisfactory. (a) The determinant kenning ‘stones of the Hjaðningar’ is a kenning for ‘weapons’ (SnE 1848-87, III, 73; NN §3240). Weapons, however, are not attested as determinants in traditional woman-kennings (see Meissner 413-18; cf. also the criticism in LP: grjót). (b) Kock (NN §3240) attempts to interpret the kenning as an expression for ‘valkyries’ (‘poles of weapons’). From the narrative of the slain and their weapons turning to stone, one can derive not only the meaning ‘weapon’ but also ‘the slain’ or ‘corpses’, i.e. valr. The kenning tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ would then be a term for ‘valkyries’ (adopted in this edn), despite the fact that ‘weapons’ and ‘battle’ are more typical determinants of valkyrie-kennings. The problem with this interpretation (and also with the interpretation given under (a) above) is that such base-words as tróða ‘pole’, which denote a pole or a staff or similar, are not attested elsewhere in kennings for valkyries (cf. Meissner 396-8). (c) The kenning could refer to a valuable decoration or ornament (LP: Hjaðningar). Such an interpretation is supported by the legendary motif that prompted the battle between Heðinn and Hǫgni: Hildr offers, but then withdraws, a conciliatory gift, a precious ring, to her father (see SnE 1998, I, 72). According to this interpretation, then, the kenning would be a regular woman-kenning with an ornament as the determinant. That legend, however, specifically mentions a ring and not a decorative stone. Assuming that the kenning is correctly interpreted as ‘valkyrie’ (cf. Marold 1990b, 201 Anm. 35), the sense of the stanza is ‘you struggle against your luck, just like other valkyries’. This might allude to the Helgi legends, where a valkyrie (Sigrún, Sváva) acts against her lover and plots his death; Hildr also brings about a struggle between her father and her lover Heðinn. An allusion to a general hostility on the part of the valkyries toward men could be conceivable as well (cf. Þhorn Hkv 2/2-3I verar né óru þekkir inni framsóttu feimu ‘men were not pleasing to the aggressive maid’).

Close

grjóts ‘of the stones’

(not checked:)
grjót (noun n.): rock, stone

kennings

fleiri tróður grjóts Hjaðninga.
‘other poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar. ’
   = VALKYRIES

the stones of the Hjaðningar. → CORPSES
other poles of CORPSES → VALKYRIES

notes

[2, 4] tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar <Heðinn and his followers> [CORPSES > VALKYRIES]’: There have been various attempts to interpret this puzzling kenning. The problem is the phrase grjóts Hjaðninga ‘of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ (grjót is a collective noun ‘stones’). The Hjaðningar are the warriors of Heðinn, who fights a never-ending battle known as the Hjaðningavíg ‘battle of the Hjaðningar’ against Hǫgni, the father of Heðinn’s beloved (Hildr). Skm (SnE 1998, I, 72) describes how the corpses of the warriors, as well as their weapons, all turn to stone, only to come to life again in the morning and continue fighting. Three explanations for this kenning have been suggested, none of which is fully satisfactory. (a) The determinant kenning ‘stones of the Hjaðningar’ is a kenning for ‘weapons’ (SnE 1848-87, III, 73; NN §3240). Weapons, however, are not attested as determinants in traditional woman-kennings (see Meissner 413-18; cf. also the criticism in LP: grjót). (b) Kock (NN §3240) attempts to interpret the kenning as an expression for ‘valkyries’ (‘poles of weapons’). From the narrative of the slain and their weapons turning to stone, one can derive not only the meaning ‘weapon’ but also ‘the slain’ or ‘corpses’, i.e. valr. The kenning tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ would then be a term for ‘valkyries’ (adopted in this edn), despite the fact that ‘weapons’ and ‘battle’ are more typical determinants of valkyrie-kennings. The problem with this interpretation (and also with the interpretation given under (a) above) is that such base-words as tróða ‘pole’, which denote a pole or a staff or similar, are not attested elsewhere in kennings for valkyries (cf. Meissner 396-8). (c) The kenning could refer to a valuable decoration or ornament (LP: Hjaðningar). Such an interpretation is supported by the legendary motif that prompted the battle between Heðinn and Hǫgni: Hildr offers, but then withdraws, a conciliatory gift, a precious ring, to her father (see SnE 1998, I, 72). According to this interpretation, then, the kenning would be a regular woman-kenning with an ornament as the determinant. That legend, however, specifically mentions a ring and not a decorative stone. Assuming that the kenning is correctly interpreted as ‘valkyrie’ (cf. Marold 1990b, 201 Anm. 35), the sense of the stanza is ‘you struggle against your luck, just like other valkyries’. This might allude to the Helgi legends, where a valkyrie (Sigrún, Sváva) acts against her lover and plots his death; Hildr also brings about a struggle between her father and her lover Heðinn. An allusion to a general hostility on the part of the valkyries toward men could be conceivable as well (cf. Þhorn Hkv 2/2-3I verar né óru þekkir inni framsóttu feimu ‘men were not pleasing to the aggressive maid’).

Close

Hjaðninga ‘of the Hjaðningar’

(not checked:)
Hjaðningr (noun m.; °; -ar): one of the Hjaðningar

kennings

fleiri tróður grjóts Hjaðninga.
‘other poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar. ’
   = VALKYRIES

the stones of the Hjaðningar. → CORPSES
other poles of CORPSES → VALKYRIES

notes

[2, 4] tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar <Heðinn and his followers> [CORPSES > VALKYRIES]’: There have been various attempts to interpret this puzzling kenning. The problem is the phrase grjóts Hjaðninga ‘of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ (grjót is a collective noun ‘stones’). The Hjaðningar are the warriors of Heðinn, who fights a never-ending battle known as the Hjaðningavíg ‘battle of the Hjaðningar’ against Hǫgni, the father of Heðinn’s beloved (Hildr). Skm (SnE 1998, I, 72) describes how the corpses of the warriors, as well as their weapons, all turn to stone, only to come to life again in the morning and continue fighting. Three explanations for this kenning have been suggested, none of which is fully satisfactory. (a) The determinant kenning ‘stones of the Hjaðningar’ is a kenning for ‘weapons’ (SnE 1848-87, III, 73; NN §3240). Weapons, however, are not attested as determinants in traditional woman-kennings (see Meissner 413-18; cf. also the criticism in LP: grjót). (b) Kock (NN §3240) attempts to interpret the kenning as an expression for ‘valkyries’ (‘poles of weapons’). From the narrative of the slain and their weapons turning to stone, one can derive not only the meaning ‘weapon’ but also ‘the slain’ or ‘corpses’, i.e. valr. The kenning tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ would then be a term for ‘valkyries’ (adopted in this edn), despite the fact that ‘weapons’ and ‘battle’ are more typical determinants of valkyrie-kennings. The problem with this interpretation (and also with the interpretation given under (a) above) is that such base-words as tróða ‘pole’, which denote a pole or a staff or similar, are not attested elsewhere in kennings for valkyries (cf. Meissner 396-8). (c) The kenning could refer to a valuable decoration or ornament (LP: Hjaðningar). Such an interpretation is supported by the legendary motif that prompted the battle between Heðinn and Hǫgni: Hildr offers, but then withdraws, a conciliatory gift, a precious ring, to her father (see SnE 1998, I, 72). According to this interpretation, then, the kenning would be a regular woman-kenning with an ornament as the determinant. That legend, however, specifically mentions a ring and not a decorative stone. Assuming that the kenning is correctly interpreted as ‘valkyrie’ (cf. Marold 1990b, 201 Anm. 35), the sense of the stanza is ‘you struggle against your luck, just like other valkyries’. This might allude to the Helgi legends, where a valkyrie (Sigrún, Sváva) acts against her lover and plots his death; Hildr also brings about a struggle between her father and her lover Heðinn. An allusion to a general hostility on the part of the valkyries toward men could be conceivable as well (cf. Þhorn Hkv 2/2-3I verar né óru þekkir inni framsóttu feimu ‘men were not pleasing to the aggressive maid’).

Close

Hjaðninga ‘of the Hjaðningar’

(not checked:)
Hjaðningr (noun m.; °; -ar): one of the Hjaðningar

kennings

fleiri tróður grjóts Hjaðninga.
‘other poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar. ’
   = VALKYRIES

the stones of the Hjaðningar. → CORPSES
other poles of CORPSES → VALKYRIES

notes

[2, 4] tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar <Heðinn and his followers> [CORPSES > VALKYRIES]’: There have been various attempts to interpret this puzzling kenning. The problem is the phrase grjóts Hjaðninga ‘of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ (grjót is a collective noun ‘stones’). The Hjaðningar are the warriors of Heðinn, who fights a never-ending battle known as the Hjaðningavíg ‘battle of the Hjaðningar’ against Hǫgni, the father of Heðinn’s beloved (Hildr). Skm (SnE 1998, I, 72) describes how the corpses of the warriors, as well as their weapons, all turn to stone, only to come to life again in the morning and continue fighting. Three explanations for this kenning have been suggested, none of which is fully satisfactory. (a) The determinant kenning ‘stones of the Hjaðningar’ is a kenning for ‘weapons’ (SnE 1848-87, III, 73; NN §3240). Weapons, however, are not attested as determinants in traditional woman-kennings (see Meissner 413-18; cf. also the criticism in LP: grjót). (b) Kock (NN §3240) attempts to interpret the kenning as an expression for ‘valkyries’ (‘poles of weapons’). From the narrative of the slain and their weapons turning to stone, one can derive not only the meaning ‘weapon’ but also ‘the slain’ or ‘corpses’, i.e. valr. The kenning tróður grjóts Hjaðninga ‘poles of the stones of the Hjaðningar’ would then be a term for ‘valkyries’ (adopted in this edn), despite the fact that ‘weapons’ and ‘battle’ are more typical determinants of valkyrie-kennings. The problem with this interpretation (and also with the interpretation given under (a) above) is that such base-words as tróða ‘pole’, which denote a pole or a staff or similar, are not attested elsewhere in kennings for valkyries (cf. Meissner 396-8). (c) The kenning could refer to a valuable decoration or ornament (LP: Hjaðningar). Such an interpretation is supported by the legendary motif that prompted the battle between Heðinn and Hǫgni: Hildr offers, but then withdraws, a conciliatory gift, a precious ring, to her father (see SnE 1998, I, 72). According to this interpretation, then, the kenning would be a regular woman-kenning with an ornament as the determinant. That legend, however, specifically mentions a ring and not a decorative stone. Assuming that the kenning is correctly interpreted as ‘valkyrie’ (cf. Marold 1990b, 201 Anm. 35), the sense of the stanza is ‘you struggle against your luck, just like other valkyries’. This might allude to the Helgi legends, where a valkyrie (Sigrún, Sváva) acts against her lover and plots his death; Hildr also brings about a struggle between her father and her lover Heðinn. An allusion to a general hostility on the part of the valkyries toward men could be conceivable as well (cf. Þhorn Hkv 2/2-3I verar né óru þekkir inni framsóttu feimu ‘men were not pleasing to the aggressive maid’).

Close

brjótask ‘struggle’

(not checked:)
brjóta (verb; °brýtr; braut, brutu; brotinn): to break, destroy

[4] brjótask: ‘b[…]az’ U

Close

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This helmingr is cited in Skm (SnE) to illustrate a woman-kenning with tróða ‘pole’ as its base-word.

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