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Prose Edda

work by Snorri Sturluson
Also known as: “Snorra Edda”, “Younger Edda”

Quick Summary

The Prose Edda is a 13th-century work by Snorri Sturluson, an Icelandic poet and historian. It serves as a textbook for aspiring poets, explaining the complex metres and mythological references in early Icelandic poetry. The Prose Edda is divided into three parts, with the most accessible section being Gylfaginning. This part presents Norse mythology through a dialogue where gods recount tales of creation, their own adventures, and the eventual end of the world in Ragnarök. The work is a crucial source for understanding Germanic mythology.123

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