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Prose Edda
Snorri Sturluson
A manual of poetics that preserves Norse mythology through three sections: Gylfaginning (mythology), Skaldskaparmal (poetic diction), and Hattatal (verse forms).
Notable Academic Translations
Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur (1916)Anthony Faulkes (1987)Jesse Byock (2005)
Recommended Reading Order
Anthony Faulkes's Everyman translation (1987) is the standard complete English edition and a clear starting point for Snorri's retellings.
Canonical Figures in this Text
Key heroes and divinities who feature prominently across the chapters of this work
Key Dramatic Scenes
Pivotal passages and mythological turning points recorded in this canon
- I
The Creation of the World
(Gylfaginning)Snorri recounts how the world was formed from the body of the primordial giant Ymir.
- II
Thor's Fishing Trip
(Gylfaginning)Thor goes fishing with the giant Hymir and nearly hauls up the World Serpent, Jormungandr.
- III
The Death of Baldur
(Gylfaginning)Loki tricks the blind god Hodr into killing Baldur with a dart of mistletoe, the one thing that could harm him.
- IV
Ragnarok
(Gylfaginning)The foretold final battle destroys the gods and the world, which is then reborn.
- V
The Legend of the Volsungs
(Skaldskaparmal)Snorri retells Sigurd's slaying of Fafnir to explain a set of poetic kennings for gold.
Stories Sourced from this Work
Ragnarok - The Twilight of the Gods
The prophesied end of the world in Norse mythology. After a great winter called Fimbulvetr, the bound wolf Fenrir will break free, the Midgard Serpent will rise from the ocean, and the giants will sail to battle the gods.
The Creation of the World from Ymir
In the beginning was the void Ginnungagap, with Muspelheim (fire) to the south and Niflheim (ice) to the north. When fire and ice met, they created the giant Ymir.
The Death of Baldur
Baldur, the most beloved god, was troubled by dreams of his death. His mother Frigg extracted oaths from all things not to harm him, making him invulnerable - except she overlooked mistletoe.
The Binding of Fenrir
The gods raised the wolf Fenrir in Asgard, but as he grew enormous and dangerous, they decided he must be bound. The dwarves crafted Gleipnir, a ribbon made from impossible things.
Yggdrasil - The World Tree
The immense ash tree that stands at the center of the cosmos and connects the Nine Worlds. Its roots extend into multiple realms, and its branches stretch over all existence.
The Mead of Poetry
Odin's cunning quest to obtain the mead of poetry from the giants, involving shapeshifting, seduction, and theft. This sacred drink grants the gift of poetic inspiration to gods and mortals alike.
Thor's Journey to Utgard
Thor, Loki, and their companions travel to the castle of the giant king Utgard-Loki, where they face a series of humiliating challenges that prove to be elaborate illusions concealing cosmic forces.