Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1999, Side 79
IV “Normal science” - after Grimm
59
Another interesting case is Gunnarsslagr, which is known from
Norna-Gests jråttr as the name of a poem or a melody performed by
Gunnarr Gjukason in the snake-pit. According to the first volume of the
Amamagnæan Edda edition the poem was lost (Edda 1787: [Ad lecto-
rem] xxxviii [Skuli Thorlacius]), but in some paper manuscripts a poem
called Gunnarsslagr is actually found, and in the second volume this was
printed as an appendix (Edda 1818: 1000-1010). In the introduction
(.Edda 1818: xxvii [BirgirThorlacius]) it was clearly stated, however, that
it was probably composed by the clergyman Gunnar Pålsson
(1714-1791).31 As late as in 1837 Ettmiiller made an effort at defending it
as genuine (Ettmiiller 1837: 106-19). However, invoking the example of
the 18th century Gunnarsslagr, taken by excellent scholars to be genu-
ine, Muller had as early as in 1818 most judiciously wamed against trust-
ing too much the intemal arguments for old age.32
Dating of genres
Corresponding to the growing consensus conceming the age of Eddie
poetry in general, a scheme of development was taking form, giving a
relative dating for different groups or genres of Eddie poems, as a rule
without any “extemal” argumentation.
The heroic poems as a group are taken to be younger than the mytho-
logical poems.33 For the mythological poetry Wilhelm Grimm con-
structed a large survey of its growth, in accordance with his theory that
the original Germanic religion was monotheistic, polytheism represent-
ing a subsequent decline (cf. Th. Beck 1935: 37-59). In the beginning
the mythological doctrine in itself was set forth: the recognition of infin-
ity, the perception of the universe in symbolic form. Allfather is the only
one, permeating everything, endowing everyone with a soul, while the
æsir are only deified heroes, who are finally destroyed. VQluspå and
Baldrs draumar express this doctrine in the arcane tone of an oracle. As
time went on, its idea and significance was no longer heeded and, pay-
31 Cf. Bugge 1867: xlix; Maurer 1868: 72-75, 284.
32 “At endeligen langt senere Digtere have kunnet med Held sætte sig ind i Oldtidens
Maneer viser Gunnarsslag, der er bleven digtet i det foregaaende Aarhundrede, og af de
største Kiendere af den eddiske Poesie antoges for ægte” (Muller 1818: 127-28, cf. p. 81).
33 Cf. Afzelius 1818b: preface; Koeppen 1837: 67; Du Méril 1839: 42.