NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Alvíssmál

Alvíssmál is an Eddic poem relating a conversation Þórr had with the dwarf Alvíss ("All-knowing"). The Poetic Edda or Elder Edda is a term applied to two things. ... Thors battle against the giants, by Marten Eskil Winge, 1872 Thor, Þór (ON), Þunor (OE), Donar or Donner (German) is the red-haired and bearded god of thunder and lightning in Germanic and Norse Mythology, the son of Odin and Jord. ...

Alvíss comes to Þórr to claim Þórr's daughter as his bride. The daughter had apparently be promised to him earlier. Þórr refuses, as he wasn't home, when the deal was done, unless Alvíss can answer any question Þórr poses. The rest of the poem is mainly a list of names, as Alvíss dashes off synonyms in reply to Þórr's questions. But finally the sun rose, and Alvíss, being a dwarf, turned to stone as its rays struck him.

There is no action in the poem, and it stands entirely on its own, but it does contain words not found elsewhere, some doubtlessly the creation of its poet. It is also the only episode on record where Þórr outthinks his adversary. He usually relied on brute force.

Categories: Medieval literature | Sagas of Iceland | Norse mythology | Nordic folklore Norse mythology, Viking mythology or Scandinavian mythology refer to the pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian people. ... Yggdrasil (Beneath its roots are the nine worlds of the universe, plus three magic wells) Hvergelmir Mímisbrunnr Urdarbrunnr Highest level Álfheim Asgard Valhalla Vanaheim Middle level Jotunheim Gastropnir Thrymheim Utgard Midgard Nidavellir and Svartalfheim (may be the same) Lower level Helheim Muspelheim Ginnungagap (Former gap between Muspelheim and Niflheim... Places Asgard Bifrost Bridge Bilskirnir Breidablik Elivagar Fyris Wolds Gandvik Ginnungagap Helgardh Hlidskjalf Hvergelmir Jotunheim Leipter River Kormet Midgard Muspelheim Nastrond Nidavellir Niflheim Ormet Reidgotaland Slidr River Svartalfheim Utgard Valhalla Vanaheim Vimur Yggdrasil Events Fimbulwinter Ragnarok Artifacts Balmung Brisingamen Draupnir Dromi Skithblathnir Gram Gungnir Tyrfing Well of Urd Humans Adils... Norse gods Divided between the Æsir and the Vanir, and sometimes including Jotun, the dividing line between these groups is less than clear. ... In Norse mythology, Jotuns, Jötunn or Jotnar of Utgard, Jötunnheim were the race of Gods called giants (thurs), separated into categories such as frost giants (rime giants, hrimthurs), fire giants, sea giants and storm giants. ... The Norse dwarves or Duergar (ON Dvergar) are highly significant entities within Norse mythology. ... This article is about the Valkyries, figures of Norse mythology. ... The orthography of the Old Norse language since the introduction of the Latin alphabet in Iceland is a thorny subject. ... Numbers are significant in Norse mythology although not to the extent which they are in some traditions e. ... A rune stone Rune stones are standing stones with runic inscriptions dating from the Iron Age (Viking Age) and early Middle Ages. ... This article is about kenning as a poetic notion. ... The Poetic Edda or Elder Edda is a term applied to two things. ... The Younger Edda, known also as the Prose Edda or Snorris Edda is an Icelandic manual of poetics which also contains many mythological stories. ... Alternative meanings: See Skald (disambiguation) The skald was a member of a group of courtly poets, whose poetry is associated with the courts of Scandinavian and Icelandic leaders during the Viking age, who composed and performed renditions of aspects of what we now characterise as Old Norse poetry. ... The Norse sagas or Viking sagas (Icelandic: Íslendingasögur), are stories about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, about early Viking voyages, about migration to Iceland, and of feuds between Icelandic families. ... Norse mythology provides a rich and diverse source which many later writers have borrowed from or built upon. ...