ED'DA. A title applied to two distinct works in Scandinavian literature, the Edda of Scum and the Thisc, and the Edda of Stur/uson. They are also called respectively the Poetical and the Prose, and the Elder and the Younger Edda. The latter of these, to which alone the name Edda is properly applied. treats of Scan dinavian mythology and of the language and modes of composition of the ancient skalds (q.v.). Its original purpose was to serve as a guide for young poets. Accompanying this Edda are four grammatical treatises, which are fre quently included in modern editions. They have also been published separately, with critical in troductions and not es (Copenhagen. 1884-86 ) . As its second name implies, the Prose Edda is ascribed to the Norse historian and politician Snorri Sturluson (q.v.), who flourished in the first, half of the thirteenth century. Originally it con sisted of three main parts: (I) Gylfaginniny (the deception of Gylfi), in which various exploits of the gods and goddesses are related to a mythical Swedish king Gylfi, who is supposed to visit As gard; (2) Skaldskaparmal (the language of poet ry), in which an explanation is given of many of the figures of speech used by the skalds; (3) Hattatal (list of metres), a catalogue of the different kinds of metres used by the skalds. Snorri's treatment of the mythology is often in accurate, and is not free from contradictions. This is, however, in spite of its evident faults, ono of the most important monuments of Old Norse literature. The Prose Edda was first published by Resenius in Copenhagen in 1605. This edi tion includes a translation into Latin by the editor and others. The next edition was pub lished in Sweden (17413). The first modern criti cal edition is that of Mask, published at Stock holm in 1817. The most modern edi tion is the Arna-Magmvan (Copenhagen, 1848 87), in three volumes, with a Latin translation and notes. Einnur Jonsson has edited both the Eddas, with German notes (1880-90). E. Wilken's Die Prosaischc Edda in, Auszuge (1877 8'2) contains the first two parts, with a German glossary. The standard German translation is Simrock's (1851). The Gulfaginning was trans lated into French by Itergmaim (2(1 ed. 1871). mythological part has been translated into English by Dasent (1842), and by Blackwell (in .Mallet's Northern Antiquities). Ti. It. Ander son's version (1880) includes the narrative por tion of the Poetical Diction, and several minor parts.
The Elder Edda is a collection of mythological and heroic Scandinavian songs, thirty-three in all, the date of whose composition in their rresent form may probably be referred to dif ferent periods between the tenth and the thir teenth centuries. The view that assigns to them
a great antiquity is no longer held by scholars. The arrangement of the whole is very unsyste matic, and the text is in many parts corrupt.
Vigfa,son. in the roriats Poctienin Boreale, vol. i. t1s8:11, tried to rearrange the parts, but attempt is regarded as ingenious rather than convincing. were discovered and first brought to the notice of European scholars in 164:1 by BryitiOlf Sveinsson, Bishop of Skallinit. in Iceland, were incorrectly sup posed by him to he the work of Semund the Wise 11055-11:12). His application to them of the name Edda is also improper, as that title. which probably mean, poetic guide, belongs only to the prose work. The etymology of the word that connects it with great-grandmother is no longer taken seriously. The unique MS. in which the Elder Edda is contained is called the Codex Regius. and is lodged in the Royal Library at Copenhagen. A splendid lithographic facsimile edition. with a diplomatic text, was issued in 1891 under the editorship of Wimmer and Jons son. A of a fragment of another MS. of the Edda was published five years later by .1Onsson. The collection was first published entire at Stockholni in ISIS by A. A. Afzelius, and at Copenhagen by the _Arna-Magmean Com mission in 1777-1s28, with a Latin translation, glossaries. etc. Complete editions were also pub lished by Munch (1847). Liining (1859), MiibinF, ( 1860), and Svend Grundtvig, (1867). But all former editions have been superseded by that of Soplins Bugge (1867). Hildebrand's edition (1876) is accompanied by a valuable glossary liy H. Gering (2d ed. 1896). In German, the best rendering is Simrock's. Both Ettmfiller and the brothers Grimm have translated por tions. The latest German version is 11. Gering's (1S92). A Danish rendering of the mythical lays by Karl Gjellerup was issued in an illus trated edition in I595. The standard Danish translation is Miller's (1571). There is a French rendering by E. de Laveleye (1866). The earliest English translation is Cottle's (1767). A complete English translation by Ben Thorpe was published in I8611. Several of the lays are translated by R. B. Anderson. in his Xorthcrn 11875). In the Corpus Poeticum an English rendering is given by F. Yorke Powell. in which the arrangement of Vigfus son's text is followed.
For a discussion of the question of the pos sible non-Scandinavian origin of the Elder Edda. consult Bugge. Home of the Eddie Lays, trans lated by Schofield (London. 1899). See, also, SCA NDINAVIAN AND TEUTONIC :Al YTIIOLOGY.