«Does he see it, spring up a second time,
the Earth from the ocean, eternally green?
Waterfalls drop, an eagle flies overhead,
over the mountain hunting fish.»

After the terrible fire of Ragnarok, the earth calmly emerges once more from the ocean, and life is renewed. The Poetic Edda begins with the Witch's Prophecy, which recounts the creation of the world and looks towards its destruction and rebirth. In this great collection of Scandinavian mythological and heroic poetry, the feats of gods and men are narrated. The one-eyed Odin, the red Thor, the trickster Loki, the beautiful goddesses, and the giants, who are their enemies, walk alongside the heroic Volsungs, Sigurd the Dragon Slayer, Brynhild the warrior, and the relentless Gudrun.

New to this revised translation is the poetic journey “The Lay of Svipdag” and “The Awakening of Angantyr,” where a girl faces her deceased father to reclaim his sword.

Comic, tragic, didactic, majestic, witty, and profound, the verses of the Edda have influenced artists from Wagner to Tolkien and a new generation of video-game and film creators.

ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years, Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Pages: 384, Dimensions: 12.9x12.9cm