Gripla - 20.12.2015, Side 242

GRIPLA242
Þormóður kolbrúnarskáld around the year 1000 and óðinn back in the
mists of time can all be evoked in the explication of the formulations in
the riddles and the underlying worldview which they imply (as expressed
in the fifth/sixth century?).28
the references to Snorra Edda and Skálda (apparently a reference
to the Third Grammatical Treatise) also reveal Björn’s grounding in the
traditional study of metrics and rhetorical devices. In riddle 11 the sev-
en branches of allegory are mentioned, amongst which can be found
‘enigma’. the source of this wisdom is almost certainly Ólafur Þórðarson
hvítaskáld’s Third Grammatical Treatise, which in turn has its roots in
Priscian and donatus.29 Furthermore the list of heiti for óðinn in the con-
clusion to the commentary can be found in collections of þulur traditionally
attached to Snorra Edda texts.30 Further explanation of poetic synonyms or
periphrasis is sporadic (e.g. riddle 5 ‘því heitir dagurinn Dellings burr eður
sonur’). But while heiti and kennings are to be expected from an author so
well-versed in traditional Icelandic poetics, it is perhaps more surprising
when in riddle 24 it is explained that words can have yet further meanings
which can be intuited through their pronunciation and the sounds which
they contain.
the many cases where words are subdivided into morphological or
phonemic units and related to others fall broadly into two categories:
those where an etymological connection appears to be asserted and those
where the relationship is ambiguous, but may be one of simple sound
symbolism (see table 2 where this information is laid out). An example of
the first case is riddle 26 where we are told that ‘vættur’ ‘hefur uppruna af
“vo-” eður “voða-” vættur’ [has its origins in “terrible-” beast].31 etymology
28 No statement is made on the date of the poem (or of any of the sources referenced), but the
authorʼs mentions of Danish regnal lists and Snorra Edda might imply that he subscribed
to the view that the Scandinavian royal dynasties came from trojan roots in the earliest
period, which can then be traced up to the present day, linking a historical Óðinn to King
Heiðrekur and ólafur hinn helgi.
29 see Dritte Grammatische Abhandlung, ed. thomas Krömmelbein (oslo: novus forlag,
1998), 231–33. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this work was also a key source for ole Worm in
his Literatura Runica. see tarrin Wills, “the Third Grammatical Treatise and ole Wormʼs
Literatura Runica,” Scandinavian Studies 76 (2004).
30 such as that found in Am 757 a 4to. see Edda Snorra Sturlusonar, ed. jón sigurðsson, 3 vols.
(Copenhagen: J. D. Quist, 1848–52), 2:556.
31 It is also possible to read the development here as one of abbreviation from ‘voðavætturʼ to
GRIPLA XXVI. - 12.12.B.indd 242 12/13/15 8:24:59 PM