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| PUBLISHERS OF HISTORICAL & FANTASY FICTION |
Here you will find an archive of assorted documents employed in the development of The Ring
Saga story, from original source materials to outlines, chronologies, character studies, and
maps. All of these are available to download for your own personal use in studying the Old Norse
materials on which this story (and that of many other authors, including Tolkien!) is based.
Saga story, from original source materials to outlines, chronologies, character studies, and
maps. All of these are available to download for your own personal use in studying the Old Norse
materials on which this story (and that of many other authors, including Tolkien!) is based.
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| THE ELDER EDDA |
The Poetic Edda is among the very earliest of documents
pertaining to the Old Norse religion and its folk traditions, in
which are found among its scattered fragments the seeds of
The Ring Saga story.
These pdf files contain comparative studies of several selected
translations compiled by author R. Scot Johns as preparatory
research for the creation of The Ring Saga series.
pertaining to the Old Norse religion and its folk traditions, in
which are found among its scattered fragments the seeds of
The Ring Saga story.
These pdf files contain comparative studies of several selected
translations compiled by author R. Scot Johns as preparatory
research for the creation of The Ring Saga series.
The Prophecy of the Seeress: A Comparative Study
Translations by Thorpe, Bellows, & Auden-Taylor.
In which a seeress prophecies the end of the world! One of
the primary sources for information regarding Ragnarök.
Translations by Thorpe, Bellows, & Auden-Taylor.
In which a seeress prophecies the end of the world! One of
the primary sources for information regarding Ragnarök.
The Sayings of the High One: A Comparative Study
Translations by Thorpe, Bellows, Auden-Taylor & Hollander.
Words of wisdom from the high god of the Norsemen, Odin the Alfather,
including accounts of how he won the runes and stole the mead of poetry!
Translations by Thorpe, Bellows, Auden-Taylor & Hollander.
Words of wisdom from the high god of the Norsemen, Odin the Alfather,
including accounts of how he won the runes and stole the mead of poetry!
The Sayings of Vafthrudnir: A Comparative Study
Translations by Thorpe, Bellows, Auden-Taylor & Hollander.
A deadly riddle contest between Odin and the giant Vafthrudnir which
functions as a compendium of Nordic lore, including more on Ragnarök.
Translations by Thorpe, Bellows, Auden-Taylor & Hollander.
A deadly riddle contest between Odin and the giant Vafthrudnir which
functions as a compendium of Nordic lore, including more on Ragnarök.
Grimnir's Sayings: A Comparative Study
Translations by Thorpe, Bellows, & Hollander.
A veritable concordance of who's who in Norse mythology,
including the most detailed description of northern mythic
geography given anywhere.
Translations by Thorpe, Bellows, & Hollander.
A veritable concordance of who's who in Norse mythology,
including the most detailed description of northern mythic
geography given anywhere.
| The Norse view of the "Nine Worlds" is most admirably visualized in this illustration from Kevin Crossley-Holland's The Norse Myths, a highly recommended retelling of The Elder Edda. [NOTE: Niflheim is in the north of the underworld, while Muspelheim, the realm of fire, not shown here, is to the south.] |
Skirnir's Journey: A Comparative Study
Translations by Thorpe, Bellows, & Auden-Taylor.
A romantic love ballad in dramatic form containing one
of the best curses ever blasted at a stubborn woman!
Translations by Thorpe, Bellows, & Auden-Taylor.
A romantic love ballad in dramatic form containing one
of the best curses ever blasted at a stubborn woman!
Harbard's Lay: A Comparative Study
Thorpe, Bellows, Hollander & Auden-Taylor.
Odin & Thor engage in a contest of abuse. Among the
wittiest bits of raunchy comedy in Old Norse literature!
Thorpe, Bellows, Hollander & Auden-Taylor.
Odin & Thor engage in a contest of abuse. Among the
wittiest bits of raunchy comedy in Old Norse literature!
The Lay of Hymir: A Comparative Study
Thorpe, Bellows, & Auden-Taylor versions.
A collection of stories concerning the strength of Thor,
central to which is his fishing for the Midgard Serpent.
Thorpe, Bellows, & Auden-Taylor versions.
A collection of stories concerning the strength of Thor,
central to which is his fishing for the Midgard Serpent.
The Flyting of Loki: A Comparative Study
Thorpe, Bellows, & Auden-Taylor versions.
The trickster god Loki berates the gods, each in turn, at
a feast, besting them all - until he comes to Thor.
Thorpe, Bellows, & Auden-Taylor versions.
The trickster god Loki berates the gods, each in turn, at
a feast, besting them all - until he comes to Thor.
The Lay of Thrym: A Comparative Study
Translations by Thorpe, Bellows, & Hollander.
In this most popular and comic of Norse tales, Thor's hammer is stolen by a giant as ransom
for Freya as wife, and to win it back Thor takes Freya's place, much to the giant's dismay.
Translations by Thorpe, Bellows, & Hollander.
In this most popular and comic of Norse tales, Thor's hammer is stolen by a giant as ransom
for Freya as wife, and to win it back Thor takes Freya's place, much to the giant's dismay.
The Sayings of All-Wise: A Comparative Study
Translations by Thorpe, Bellows, & Hollander.
Of interest mainly to authors and poets, this short work in which a dwarf attempts to steal
Thor's daughter for a wife consists essentially of clever synonyms for numerous objects.
Translations by Thorpe, Bellows, & Hollander.
Of interest mainly to authors and poets, this short work in which a dwarf attempts to steal
Thor's daughter for a wife consists essentially of clever synonyms for numerous objects.
| --------------------------- The Mythological Poems --------------------------- |
| - The Eddica Minora - |
These are the more significant of the additional mythological poems which are not found in the
two primary codices, but rather in several paper manuscripts dating somewhat later.
two primary codices, but rather in several paper manuscripts dating somewhat later.
The Lay of Volund: A Comparative Study
Translations by Thorpe, Bellows, & Hollander.
Akin to the Greek myth of Daedalus, this is the wrenching tale of Völund (a.k.a. Wayland) the
Smith and his captivity and ultimate escape and revenge on those who enslaved him.
Translations by Thorpe, Bellows, & Hollander.
Akin to the Greek myth of Daedalus, this is the wrenching tale of Völund (a.k.a. Wayland) the
Smith and his captivity and ultimate escape and revenge on those who enslaved him.
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Baldur's Dreams: A Comparative Study
Versions by Thorpe, Bellows, & Auden-Taylor.
A shorter companion piece to the Völuspá, in which
Odin rides to Hel to seek the meaning of Baldur's dreams.
Versions by Thorpe, Bellows, & Auden-Taylor.
A shorter companion piece to the Völuspá, in which
Odin rides to Hel to seek the meaning of Baldur's dreams.
The Song of Rig: A Comparative Study
Translations by Thorpe & Bellows.
three castes of thralls, churls, and jarls came to be.
Translations by Thorpe & Bellows.
three castes of thralls, churls, and jarls came to be.
The Song of Hyndla: A Comparative Study
Translations by Cottle, Thorpe & Bellows.
Important only in that it contains "The Shorter Völuspá," a late imitative
work of some 50 lines which provides an additional glimpse into Ragnarök, as
well as a curious and quite compelling myth of Loki's evil found nowhere else.
Translations by Cottle, Thorpe & Bellows.
Important only in that it contains "The Shorter Völuspá," a late imitative
work of some 50 lines which provides an additional glimpse into Ragnarök, as
well as a curious and quite compelling myth of Loki's evil found nowhere else.
The Ballad of Svipdag: A Comparative Study
Translations by Thorpe & Bellows.
Two related 17th century poems concerning Svipdag's quest for his true love Menglöð, who
dwells within a giant-guarded fortress encircled by fire, mirroring the Sigurd-Brunhild motif.
The first is a short charm song while the second is a riddle game with the hall's giant guardian.
Translations by Thorpe & Bellows.
Two related 17th century poems concerning Svipdag's quest for his true love Menglöð, who
dwells within a giant-guarded fortress encircled by fire, mirroring the Sigurd-Brunhild motif.
The first is a short charm song while the second is a riddle game with the hall's giant guardian.
Hrafnagaldur Óðins: A Comparative Study
Translations by Thorpe & Björnsson.
A short, incomplete poem that is a late imitative work in the style of the Völuspá, providing
some vividly bizarre and cryptic references to the end times and the final battle of Ragnarök.
Translations by Thorpe & Björnsson.
A short, incomplete poem that is a late imitative work in the style of the Völuspá, providing
some vividly bizarre and cryptic references to the end times and the final battle of Ragnarök.
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