Description: This scene is from prose prologue to the poem Hymiskiða in the Viking
Society's reprint of Olive
Bray's dual language edition of The Elder
Edda (1908). W. G. Collingwood's illustration depicts
Þórr
reeling Miðgarðsormr in to the side of the boat.
Source: The Elder or Poetic Edda: Commonly Known As
Sæmund's Edda
Folio or Page: 113
Medium: Wood Engraving
Date: 1908
Dimensions (mm): 120 x 90
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.
Rudof Simek notes in Dictionary of Northern Mythology that the giant
Hymir does not cut Þórr's fishing line in the poem and that this detail only
occurs in Snorri's Edda (168). Simek, Rudolf. Angela Hall. Dictionary of
Northern Mythology. W Woodbridge: D. S. Brewer, 2007. Print.
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.
Simek,
Rudolf.
Angela
Hall
. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. W
Woodbridge: D. S. Brewer,
2007.
Dunn-Krahn,
Sage (en.)
b. 13th July 1999
Occupation: Research Assistant
Artifacts
Megingjarðar (non.)
Þórr's belt that doubles his strength.
Mjöllnir (non.)
Mjollnir (en.)
Þórr's hammer that returns to his hand after he throws it.
Creatures: animals, birds, monsters etc.
Jörmungandr (non.)
Jormungand (en.)
A monstrous serpent who is the progeny of Loki and the giantess
Angrboða. This serpent is also known as Miðgarðsormr and, in English,
the Midgard Serpent.
Miðgarðsormr (non.)
Midgard
Serpent (en.)
A monstrous serpent who is the progeny of Loki and the giantess
Angrboða. This serpent is also known as Jörmungandr and in English as
the Midgard Serpent.
Giants and Giantesses
Hymir (non.)
Hymir is the giant who went fishing with Þórr for Miðgarðsormr and cut
the line when Þórr caught the serpent.
Gods and Goddesses
Þórr (non.)
Thor (en.)
In the Prose Edda, Þórr is the son of Óðinn
and the giantess Jörð. However, in Heimskringla, he is a mortal.
Myths
Þórr's Fishing Trip
This myth relates the story of Þórr's almost successful attempt to
catch Miðgarðsormr on a fishing line. The giant Hymir does not cut
Þórr's fishing line in the poem Hymiskiða. Hymir only cuts the line in
Snorri's Edda.
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).
Elder or
Poetic Edda (en.)A dual language editon of the Poetic Edda with
illustrations by W. G. Collingwood.
Hymiskviða (is.)
Lay of Hymir (en.)
One of the mythological poems, preserved in the Poetic Edda, that
consists of three interlocking myths concerning Þórr, i.e., Þórr
fetching a kettle for a feast; Þórr fishing for Miðgarðsormr; and the
laming of Þórr´s goat.
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.