Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 edition. Excerpt: ...the existence of Snorri's work; that it sprang into being because of a new and peculiar need--a title for Snorri Sturluson's unique treatise on the art of poetry. The details of his theory may be briefly stated. From 6ir, 'poem, poetry,' some one (not Snorri) created the term edda on the analogy of st69, n., 'a stud, collection, of horses': dedda, f., 'a mare.' It is at once noticed that the words dfib and stedda belong to a category of ideas which would seem to have little to do with poetry and poetical terms. Gfslason's theory of the analogical process involved is not, however, based on the assumption that do would directly call to mind st69, but that the formation in-edd-has a peculiar function, the need of which was felt in the attempt to adapt 6ir for use as the title of a book on the art of poetry. This function was, in the opinion of Gislason, diminutive in character. Let us first see how he obtains this result, and next how he applies it to the term Edda. 1 Geseh. d. deutsch. Spr., 4. aufl., p. 529: Edda = 'proavia.' "Es ist nun vollig im sinne des alterthums, dass die urgrossniutter dem kreig Hirer kinder und enkel von der vergangenheit kunde gibt," etc. 'Die Edda, 10. aufl., Stuttgart, 1896, p. 339. Nordboernes Aandtliv, I, p. 144: The name Edda,' oldemoder,' was used "rimeligvis fordi man vilde betegne bogens indhold som en rest fra oldtiden." IeeL Diet., s. v., and Corpus Poet. Boreale,!, pp. xxvifl. i Deutsche Altertumskunde, vol. v., p. 207. The italics are mine. 'En bemserkning om Edda som navn pa et skrift,' Aarbeger for nord. Oldkyndighed og Historie, 1884, pp. 143-156. The theory which Gislason here attempts to establish on scientific grounds was first suggested by Ami Magnusson(1787). Stedda occurs only...
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