is one of the poems of the edda, in
fornyrðislagmetre, preserved in two complete versions in medieval Icelandic manuscripts: 63 stanzas in the
Codex Regiusmanuscript of the edda poems from around 1270 (“Konungsbók eddukvæða
Codex Regius”), and 59 stanzas in
Hauksbók, the relevant section being dated to the middle years of the 14th century (
Hauksbók1892-96). In addition, 28 stanzas from
Völuspáare quoted, in part or in whole, in the various manuscripts of Snorri Sturluson’s
Eddafrom the early thirteenth century, the forms being very close to those in
Hauksbók. Much of the material of the poem is also paraphrased in the manuscripts of Snorri’s
Edda.
The numbering of the stanzas varies considerably in editions of the poem – for two principal reasons. Firstly,
4608 words
Citation: Sigurðsson, Gísli. "Völuspá". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 13 October 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=40793, accessed 12 October 2024.]