Háttatal

Icelandic literature

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June 29, 2026

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Háttatal is a section within the Prose Edda, an important work of Icelandic literature compiled in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. This section specifically serves as a catalog of poetic meters, detailing 102 different forms known to Snorri. It was primarily intended as a textbook for aspiring poets, helping them understand and utilize the complex metrical structures characteristic of skaldic poetry. Skaldic poetry, developed by Icelandic poets, is known for its intricate meter, specialized vocabulary (heiti), and metaphorical circumlocutions (kenning), distinguishing it from the simpler Eddaic poetry.12

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Edda
The Prose Edda.
…circumlocutions of the skalds, and Háttatal (“A Catalog of Metres”), giving examples of 102 metres known to Snorri—are of interest chiefly to specialists in ancient Norse and Germanic literature. The remaining section, Gylfaginning (“The Beguiling of Gylfi”), is of interest to the general reader. Cast in the form of a…
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…circumlocutions of the skalds, and Háttatal (“A Catalog of Metres”), giving examples of 102 metres known to Snorri—are of interest chiefly to specialists in ancient Norse and Germanic literature. The remaining section, Gylfaginning (“The Beguiling of Gylfi”), is of interest to the general reader. Cast in the form of a…
Read More