Description: This scene is from prose prologue to the poem Hávamál in the Viking
Society's reprint of Olive
Bray's dual language edition of The Elder
Edda (1908). W. G. Collingwood's illustration depicts a
traveller knocking on a door.
Source: The Elder or Poetic Edda: Commonly Known As
Sæmund's Edda
Folio or Page: 60
Medium: Wood Engraving
Date: 1908
Dimensions (mm): 110 x 145
Provenance:
This illustration is from The Elder or
Poetic Edda: Commonly Known As Sæmund's Edda from the
collection of P. A. Baer.
Rights:
This illustration from The Elder or Poetic
Edda: Commonly Known As Sæmund's Edda is in the public
domain.
Research notes, early print reviews, etc.:
Excerpt from an early print book review (1908): "Each poem is prefaced
by two designs by Professor Collingwood. These at their best leave little to be
desired. Several of them e.g. Graybeard and Thor, are altogether admirable.
Others are valuable both from the artistic and the antiquarian standpoint, as
the artist has woven into them motives from Pre-Norman crosses or hogbacks
illustrating Eddaic subjects...." pg. 494. Full text of the
review. Folklore Vol. 19, No. 4 (Dec. 30, 1908), pp. 493-496.
Excerpt from an early print book review (1909): "The text is accompanied
by thirty-three excellent illustrations, which have the comparatively rare merit
of really helping the reader to vizualize [sic]the action and of suggesting the
atmosphere of the poems." pg 97. Full text of the review.The Journal of American Folklore Vol. 22, No. 83 (Jan.
- Mar., 1909), pp. 96-98.
Bibliography:
Editions
Elder or Poetic Edda: Commonly Known As Sæmund's
Edda.
Translated by
Olive
Bray
. London: Viking
Club, 1908.
Secondary Sources
Major, Albany
F. Review of The Elder or
Poetic Edda: Commonly Known As Sæmund's Edda, translated by
Olive
Bray. Folklore,
vol. 19, no. 4, 30 Dec. 1908:
493-496. Web. August 2,2021.
Rankin, J.
W.. Review of Elder
or Poetic Edda: Commonly Known As Sæmund's Edda, translated by
Olive
Bray. The Journal of American
Folklore, vol. 22, no. 83, Jan. -
Mar. 1909: 96-98. Web. 26 July
2021.
Dunn-Krahn,
Sage (en.)
b. 13th July 1999
Occupation: Research Assistant
Gods and Goddesses
Óðinn (non.)
Odin (en.)
The chief god of the Æsir in The Prose Edda.
However, in Heimskringla he was a mortal who
tricks the King of Sweden into believing that he was a god.
Nouns
Edwardian (en.)The
Edwardian era began with the reign of King Edward VII, 1901 to 1910
(January 22, 1901 - 28 July, 1914). However, the era's end date is
sometimes extended to the beginning of World War 1 (28 July
1914).
Source Materials:
Elder or
Poetic Edda (en.)A dual language editon of the Poetic Edda with
illustrations by W. G. Collingwood.
Hávamál (non.)
Sayings of the High One (en.)
A poem from the Poetic Edda that is only preserved in the Codex
Regius. It is actually a combination of several Old Norse poems from the
Viking age and the verses are attributed to Óðinn.
Source Persons
Bray,
Olive (en.)
b. June 17, 1878
d. November 15, 1909
Nationality: English
Occupation: scholar, translator and editior
Residence: 17 The Boltons Kensington, London, England
Bray was one of the daughters of the high court judge Sir Reginald
More Bray (1842-1923) and the novelist Emily Octavia Bray, of Shere
Manor near Guildford. Little is known about Olive. She joined the Viking
Society for Northern Research in 1902 and was a Vice-President in 1909.
At the time of her death, she was living in the family home at 17 The
Boltons Kensington. Her grave is in the Shere churchyard.
Collingwood,
W.
G. (en.)
b. 6th August 1854
d. 1st October 1932
Nationality: English
Collingwood was an author, artist, and a professor at University
College Reading.
