Snorri+Sturluson

Snorri Sturluson 

Snorri Sturluson was a historian, statesman, scholar and poet. Born in 1178 and died in 1241, Snorri was the son of Sturla Thortsson and was the most important Icelandic historian of the Middle Ages. His works include the //Edda// (a.k.a //Snorre’s Edda//), //The Younger Edda//, //The Prose Edda//, //Heimskringla//, //Gylfaginning//, //Hattatal//, //Egils Saga//, and //The Elder Edda// (with Saemund Sigfusson).

=Life =  Snorri was born at Hvammr in Iceland in 1178. As a boy Snorri attended the school of //Saemund the Wise// at Oddi. Here Snorri was raised with the belief of the Old Gods and learned the history of Scandinavia, Latin, Theological Studies, Poetry, Epics, and the reading of Icelandic Literature and Sagas. After leaving the school Snorri was able to, through his political alliances, obtain enough funds to take a leading role in politics. He went on to become a powerful figure, however, becoming enemies with Haakon, the King of Norway ; a very powerful person in this time.

At nineteen years old, Snorri was married to Herdis, the daughter of father Bersi. They lived together at Oddi, however, several years later after Snorri having obtained more power, through gaining estates, he left Herdis. He then moved to Reykholt and in 1224 married again to Hallveig; the richest woman in Iceland.

By the grace of Skuli who was the earl of Norway, Snorri became the earl of Iceland. Skuli was later made king of Norway however there was a lot of civil strife in Norway at this time and war broke out between Skuli and his son-in-law Haakon. Haakon however defeated Skuli and took power; becoming the king of Norway. Snorri, having supported Skuli, was deemed an enemy of Haakon, and in 1241 Haakon had Snorri executed in his home in Reykholt. Ironically, just before his death, Snorri had finished his most famous work, the Heimskringla which was the most durable memorial to the Norwegian Kings that any royal house has ever received.

=Works =  Throughout his life Snorri composed many works, both prose of poetry. Before, and also during, Snorri's trip to Norway he composed several poems, which unfortunately are now lost. Snorri is mostly remembered for his prose works. The general consensus among scholars is that SNorri wrote his Edda first, placing the Hattatal at the end, followed by Egil's Saga and finally Heimskringla. The Heimskringla is considered the most important, due to it being the chief authority for the early history of Iceland and Scandinavia. Another work by Snorri considered to be of high importance is the Younger Edda, which was intended as a textbook in the art of traditional Icelandic poetry, and also the mythology of the North.

Younger Edda
 This work is a treatise on poetics for the guidance of Skalds. It was intended to supply to the Skald all the necessary information about Mythology, Poetic diction, and versification. The work was unfinished when Snorri died and was subsequently revised by other writers, most who remain unknown.

Elder Edda
 This Edda is a collection of mythological and heroic songs in ancient Icelandic. In complete; there are thirty-three songs. Portions of this are cited in Snorre’s Edda and it is thought that this was Snorri’s source some of his works. Some of these songs have been attributed as well to the priest Saemund and this edda was first dubbed Edda Saemund Multiscii (Edda of Saemund the Wise) however it now thought that this work was composed by both Saemund and Snorri. The poems contained differ in both content and form. It is certain that these songs were collected and written down in Iceland from Oral tradition; however, nothing is known in relation to their age or original home. Among the mythological poems within this Edda, the most famous is the Voluspa, the most important source for knowledge of Norse Cosmogony.

Heimskringla
 Here the history of Norway is told from its mythic beginnings to 1177. Many of the sources used by Snorri have survived, most of them in later versions than those available to him. Snorri was also a more critical scholar than the authors of the older sagas. The importance and power of the Heimskringla was so great, that many other, older sagas were often neglected and as a result lost afterwards. Snorri has an outstanding talent for drama, and in this work he depicts a large cast of clearly-defined characters, living personalities, and putting forward powerful opponents in absolute symmetry. Not only does he do this very well, but he also explains both causes and consequences. As a result of his powerful realism, characters of the story, and the logical progression of events, it is agreed that the Heimskringla is more credible than the other sagas of the kings. Heimskringla has been published repeatedly in Norwegian translation, and has become a national "Bible" to the Norwegians. It played an important role in the nationalist awakening of the 19th and 20th centuries, in the same way as the Icelandic movement for freedom and independence drew inspiration from the Sagas of Icelanders.

=<span style="font-family: tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Sources = <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;"> Kristjansson, Jonas. (trans.) Yates, Anna. Snorrastofa.

Wittman, P. (1912). //Snorri Sturluson//. The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved August 25, 2011

Wittmann, P., & Remy, A.F.J. (1910). //Iceland//. The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved August 25, 2011

Remy, A.F.J. (1909). //Edda//. The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved August 25, 2011

=<span style="font-family: tahoma,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">References = <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 15px;">