Description: This scene is from the poem Gróagaldr in the
Viking Society's reprint of Olive Bray's dual language edition
of The Elder Edda (1908). W. G. Collingwood's illustration
depicts Svipdagr listening to a deceased seeres, i.e.,
his mother Gróa, telling him charms that will protect him
when he goes to woo Menglöð.
Source: The Elder or Poetic Edda: Commonly Known As
Sæmund's Edda
Folio or Page: 156
Medium: Wood Engraving
Date: 1908
Dimensions (mm): 110 x 85
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
Mythological Persons
Gróa (non.)
The seeress who is Aurvandill´s wife in the Prose Edda and Svipdagr´s
mother in the eddic poem Gróugaldr.
Menglöð (non.)
The maiden that Gróa's son Svipdagr is determined to woo and wed.
Menglöð´s residence is guarded by the giant Fjolsviðr, two dogs, a clay
wall and a wall of fire.
Svipdagr (non.)
The son of the seeress Gróa, who consults her for advice on how to woo
a maiden named Menglöð.
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.
Grougaldr (is.)
Spell of Gróa (en.)
An eddic poem that is not in the collection of poems known as the
Poetic Edda. It is part of Svipdagsmal, which also includes
Fjolsvinnismal. Gróugaldr, and recounts the advice that Gróa gave her
son Svipdagr in regard to wooing Menglöð.
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.
