The Poetic Edda on Thor
The > Volume I > Introductory Note
attestation: The stanza describes an act of creation involving Thor.
"26. In swelling rage | then rose up Thor,— Seldom he sits | when he such things hears,— And the oaths were broken, | the words and bonds, The mighty pledges | between them made."
attestation: Thor is characterized by power in the verse.
"26. In swelling rage | then rose up Thor,— Seldom he sits | when he such things hears,— And the oaths were broken, | the words and bonds, The mighty pledges | between them made."
attestation: Thor is associated with the location Thruthheim.
"4. The land is holy | that lies hard by The gods and the elves together; And Thor shall ever | in Thruthheim dwell, Till the gods to destruction go."
attestation: Thor is associated with the location Yggdrasil.
"29. Kormt and Ormt | and the Kerlaugs twain Shall Thor each day wade through, (When dooms to give | he forth shall go To the ash-tree Yggdrasil;) For heaven's bridge | burns all in flame,"
attribution: Thor delivers a speech in the verse.
"2. "What kind of a peasant is yon, | that calls o'er the bay?"
Thor spake:"
- attestation: The stanza describes death or destruction involving Thor.
"4. "Of thy morning feats art thou proud, | but the future thou knowest not wholly; Doleful thine home-coming is: | thy mother, methinks, is dead."
Thor spake:"
- attribution: Thor delivers a speech in the verse.
"4. "Of thy morning feats art thou proud, | but the future thou knowest not wholly; Doleful thine home-coming is: | thy mother, methinks, is dead."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: The stanza describes an act of creation involving Thor.
"20. "Much love-craft I wrought | with them who ride by night, When I stole them by stealth from their husbands; A giant hard | was Hlebarth, methinks: His wand he gave me as gift, And I stole his wits away."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Thor.
"20. "Much love-craft I wrought | with them who ride by night, When I stole them by stealth from their husbands; A giant hard | was Hlebarth, methinks: His wand he gave me as gift, And I stole his wits away."
Thor spake:"
- attribution: Thor delivers a speech in the verse.
"22. "The oak must have | what it shaves from another; In such things each for himself. What, Thor, didst thou the while?"
Thor spake:"
- attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Thor, Othin.
"24. "In Valland I was, | and wars I raised, Princes I angered, | and peace brought never; The noble who fall | in the fight hath Othin, And Thor hath the race of the thralls."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: Thor is characterized by nobility in the verse.
"24. "In Valland I was, | and wars I raised, Princes I angered, | and peace brought never; The noble who fall | in the fight hath Othin, And Thor hath the race of the thralls."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: The stanza references rulership or authority involving Thor.
"24. "In Valland I was, | and wars I raised, Princes I angered, | and peace brought never; The noble who fall | in the fight hath Othin, And Thor hath the race of the thralls."
Thor spake:"
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Thor.
"26. "Thor has might enough, | but never a heart; For cowardly fear | in a glove wast thou fain to crawl, And there forgot thou wast Thor; Afraid there thou wast, | thy fear was such,"
attestation: Thor is characterized by age in the verse.
"30. "Eastward I was, | and spake with a certain one, I played with the linen-white maid, | and met her by stealth; I gladdened the gold-decked one, | and she granted me joy."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: Thor is characterized by gladness in the verse.
"30. "Eastward I was, | and spake with a certain one, I played with the linen-white maid, | and met her by stealth; I gladdened the gold-decked one, | and she granted me joy."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Thor.
"30. "Eastward I was, | and spake with a certain one, I played with the linen-white maid, | and met her by stealth; I gladdened the gold-decked one, | and she granted me joy."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: The stanza describes travel or movement involving Thor.
"40. "In the host I was | that hither fared, The banners to raise, | and the spear to redden."
Thor spake:"
- attribution: Thor delivers a speech in the verse.
"48. "Sif has a lover at home, | and him shouldst thou meet; More fitting it were | on him to put forth thy strength."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: The stanza describes travel or movement involving Thor.
"50. "Truth do I speak, | but slow on thy way thou art; Far hadst thou gone | if now in the boat thou hadst fared."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Thor.
"52. "I thought not ever | that Asathor would be hindered By a ferryman thus from faring."
Thor spake:"
- attribution: Thor delivers a speech in the verse.
"5. "There dwells to the east | of Elivagar Hymir the wise | at the end of heaven; A kettle my father | fierce doth own, A mighty vessel | a mile in depth."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: Thor is characterized by power in the verse.
"5. "There dwells to the east | of Elivagar Hymir the wise | at the end of heaven; A kettle my father | fierce doth own, A mighty vessel | a mile in depth."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: Thor is characterized by ferocity in the verse.
"5. "There dwells to the east | of Elivagar Hymir the wise | at the end of heaven; A kettle my father | fierce doth own, A mighty vessel | a mile in depth."
Thor spake:"
attestation: Thor is characterized by age in the verse.
"24. The venomous serpent | swiftly up To the boat did Thor, | the bold one, pull; With his hammer the loathly | hill of the hair Of the brother of Fenrir | he smote from above."
attestation: Thor is characterized by boldness in the verse.
"24. The venomous serpent | swiftly up To the boat did Thor, | the bold one, pull; With his hammer the loathly | hill of the hair Of the brother of Fenrir | he smote from above."
attestation: Thor is characterized by swiftness in the verse.
"24. The venomous serpent | swiftly up To the boat did Thor, | the bold one, pull; With his hammer the loathly | hill of the hair Of the brother of Fenrir | he smote from above."
relationship: The stanza references alliance or oath between Thor and Fenrir.
"24. The venomous serpent | swiftly up To the boat did Thor, | the bold one, pull; With his hammer the loathly | hill of the hair Of the brother of Fenrir | he smote from above."
attestation: Thor is characterized by strength in the verse.
"29. His might the giant | again would match, For stubborn he was, | with the strength of Thor; None truly strong, | though stoutly he rowed, Would he call save one | who could break the cup."
relationship: The stanza references a wife of Thor.
"The Lokasenna is found only in Regius, where it follows the Hymiskvitha; Snorri quotes four lines of it, grouped together as a single stanza.
The poem is one of the most vigorous of the entire collection, and"
- attribution: Thor delivers a speech in the verse.
"58. "Lo, in has come | the son of Earth: Why threaten so loudly, Thor? Less fierce thou shalt go | to fight with the wolf When he swallows Sigfather up."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: Thor is characterized by ferocity in the verse.
"58. "Lo, in has come | the son of Earth: Why threaten so loudly, Thor? Less fierce thou shalt go | to fight with the wolf When he swallows Sigfather up."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: The stanza describes travel or movement involving Thor.
"60. "That thou hast fared | on the East-road forth To men shouldst thou say no more; In the thumb of a glove | didst thou hide, thou great one, And there forgot thou wast Thor."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: Thor is characterized by greatness in the verse.
"60. "That thou hast fared | on the East-road forth To men shouldst thou say no more; In the thumb of a glove | didst thou hide, thou great one, And there forgot thou wast Thor."
Thor spake:"
attestation: Thor is characterized by power in the verse.
"14. Then Heimdall spake, | whitest of the gods, Like the Wanes he knew | the future well: "Bind we on Thor | the bridal veil, Let him bear the mighty | Brisings' necklace;"
attestation: The stanza describes an act of creation involving he.
"16. Then Thor the mighty | his answer made: "Me would the gods | unmanly call If I let bind | the bridal veil.""
attestation: The stanza describes binding or imprisonment involving he.
"18. Then bound they on Thor | the bridal veil, And next the mighty | Brisings' necklace."
relationship: The stanza references a daughter of Thor.
"No better summary of the Alvissmol can be given than Gering's statement that "it is a versified chapter from the skaldic Poetics." The narrative skeleton, contained solely in stanzas 1–8 and in 35, is of"
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Thor.
"1. "Now shall the bride | my benches adorn, And homeward haste forthwith; Eager for wedlock | to all shall I seem, Nor at home shall they rob me of rest."
Thor spake:"
- attribution: Thor delivers a speech in the verse.
"1. "Now shall the bride | my benches adorn, And homeward haste forthwith; Eager for wedlock | to all shall I seem, Nor at home shall they rob me of rest."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Thor.
"5. "What hero claims | such right to hold O'er the bride that shines so bright? Not many will know thee, | thou wandering man! Who was bought with rings to bear thee?"
Thor spake:"
- attribution: Thor delivers a speech in the verse.
"7. "Thy good-will now | shall I quickly get, And win the marriage word; I long to have, | and I would not lack, This snow-white maid for mine."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Thor.
"12. "'Heaven' men call it, | 'The Height' the gods, The Wanes 'The Weaver of Winds'; Giants 'The Up-World,' | elves 'The Fair-Roof,' The dwarfs 'The Dripping Hall.'"
Thor spake:"
- attestation: Thor is characterized by beauty in the verse.
"12. "'Heaven' men call it, | 'The Height' the gods, The Wanes 'The Weaver of Winds'; Giants 'The Up-World,' | elves 'The Fair-Roof,' The dwarfs 'The Dripping Hall.'"
Thor spake:"
- attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Thor.
"20. "'Wind' do men call it, | the gods 'The Waverer,' 'The Neigher' the holy ones high; 'The Wailer' the giants, | 'Roaring Wender' the elves, In hell 'The Blustering Blast.'"
Thor spake:"
- attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Thor.
"26. "'Fire' men call it, | and 'Flame' the gods, By the Wanes is it 'Wildfire' called; 'The Biter' by giants, | 'The Burner' by dwarfs, 'The Swift' in the house of hell."
Thor spake:"
- attribution: Thor delivers a speech in the verse.
"26. "'Fire' men call it, | and 'Flame' the gods, By the Wanes is it 'Wildfire' called; 'The Biter' by giants, | 'The Burner' by dwarfs, 'The Swift' in the house of hell."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: Thor is characterized by swiftness in the verse.
"26. "'Fire' men call it, | and 'Flame' the gods, By the Wanes is it 'Wildfire' called; 'The Biter' by giants, | 'The Burner' by dwarfs, 'The Swift' in the house of hell."
Thor spake:"
- attestation: Thor is characterized by beauty in the verse.
"28. "Men call it 'The Wood,' | gods 'The Mane of the Field,' 'Seaweed of Hills' in hell; 'Flame-Food' the giants, | 'Fair-Limbed' the elves, 'The Wand' is it called by the Wanes."
Thor spake:"
attestation: The stanza contains a reference to fate or prophecy concerning Thor.
"4. "Thor shall I honor, | and this shall I ask, That his favor true | mayst thou ever find; . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . . Though little the brides | of the giants he loves."
attestation: Thor is characterized by age in the verse.
"18. "The mate of Dag | was a mother of heroes, Thora, who bore him | the bravest of fighters, Frathmar and Gyrth | and the Frekis twain, Am and Jofurmar, | Alf the Old;"
The > Volume I > Notes
attestation: Thor slew the giant builder when he threatened the gods after failing to complete the work
"The enraged giant then threatened the gods, whereupon Thor slew him."
attestation: Thor, the warder of earth and son of Fjorgyn, dies after slaying the serpent Mithgarthsorm, overcome by its venomous breath
"The warder of earth: Thor. The son of Fjorgyn: again Thor, who, after slaying the serpent, is overcome by his venomous breath, and dies."
attestation: Thor must go on foot to the judgment-seat because the rainbow bridge Bifrost burns when he crosses it.
"Thor has to go on foot in the last days of the destruction, when the bridge is burning."
attestation: Thor's journeys were almost as numerous as Othin's, and his 'Journey in the East' included encounters with the giant Skrymir and Utgartha-Loki.
"Thor: the journeys of the thunder-god were almost as numerous as those of Othin; cf. Thrymskvitha and Hymiskvitha. Like the Robin Hood of the British ballads, Thor was often temporarily worsted, but always managed to come out ahead in the end. His "Journey in the East" is presumably the famous episode, related in full by Snorri, in the course of which he encountered the giant Skrymir, and in the house of Utgartha-Loki lifted the cat which turned out to be Mithgarthsorm."
attestation: Thor is described as 'sekr' (without legal protection) while in the territory of the giants.
"Thor is "sekr," i.e., without the protection of any law, so long as he is in the territory of his enemies, the giants."
comparison: Nowhere else in the sources is it indicated that Thor has an asylum for dead peasants, contrasting with Othin who receives slain heroes.
"Nowhere else is it indicated that Thor has an asylum for dead peasants."
attestation: Thor and his companions took shelter in the giant Skrymir's glove, mistaking it for a house, with the thumb being the smaller room.
"The house in which they had taken refuge was his glove, the smaller room being the thumb."
attestation: Hlorrithi is another name for Thor
"Hlorrithi: Thor"
attestation: Thor was known as the friend of humanity, particularly the peasant class
"Concerning Thor as the friend of man, particularly of the peasant class, cf. introduction to Harbarthsljoth"
attestation: Thor is noted for his enormous appetite
"Thor's appetite figures elsewhere; cf. Thrymskvitha, 24"
attestation: Thor's goat-drawn chariot is the reason he is called 'Lord of the goats'
"Lord of the goats: Thor, because of his goat-drawn chariot"
attestation: Thor is called the warder or protector of men
"Warder of men: Thor"
attestation: Thor slays and is slain by Mithgarthsorm in the last battle
"Thor, who in the last battle slays, and is slain by, Mithgarthsorm"
attestation: In Snorri's version, Thor pulls so hard on the fishing line that his feet break through the boat floor, and Hymir cuts the line freeing the serpent
"In Snorri's version, Thor pulls so hard on the line that he drives both his feet through the flooring of the boat, and stands on bottom. When he pulls the serpent up, Hymir cuts the line with his bait-knife, which explains the serpent's escape"
attestation: Thor knocked Hymir overboard with his hammer after Hymir cut the fishing line, then waded ashore
"Thor, in a rage, knocks Hymir overboard with his hammer, and then wades ashore"
attestation: Thor cooked his own goats for supper at a peasant's house, and when Thjalfi split a leg-bone for the marrow, the resurrected goat was lame
"There he proceeded to cook his own goats for supper. The peasant's son, Thjalfi, eager to get at the marrow, split one of the leg-bones with his knife. The next morning, when Thor was ready to proceed with his journey, he called the goats to life again, but one of them proved irretrievably lame"
attestation: Thor's anger at the lame goat led the peasant to give him both children Thjalfi and Roskva as servants
"His wrath led the peasant to give him both his children as servants"
attestation: Thor is described as the son of Odin and Jorth (Earth)
"Son of Earth: Thor, son of Othin and Jorth (Earth)"
attestation: Vingthor ('Thor the Hurler') is another name for Thor, equivalent to Vingnir
"Vingthor ("Thor the Hurler"): another name for Thor, equivalent to Vingnir"
attestation: Thor's wagon was always drawn by goats
"Goats: Thor's wagon was always drawn by goats"
attestation: The 'sign of the hammer' was used for hallowing or consecration in heathen rites, analogous to the Christian cross
"Hallow: just what this means is not clear, but there are references to other kinds of consecration, though not of a bride, with the "sign of the hammer." According to Vigfusson, "the hammer was the holy sign with the heathens, answering to the cross of the Christians.""
attestation: Thor hallowed his goat with his hammer to bring it back to life after cooking it
"In Snorri's story of Thor's resuscitation of his cooked goat (cf. Hymiskvitha, 38, note) the god "hallows" the goat with his hammer"
attestation: One of the oldest runic signs with magic power was named Thor's-hammer
"One of the oldest runic signs, supposed to have magic power, was named Thor's-hammer"
attestation: Thor's sons were born of a giantess, not of Sif
"whereas the god's sons were born of a giantess"
attestation: Thor's uncouth appearance often led to him being mistaken for a tramp
"Alvis takes Thor for a tramp, the god's uncouth appearance often leading to such mistakes"
The > part in a few of the Eddic poems. > Introductory Note
relationship: Thor is identified as the offspring of Hokon.
"25. By the pillars she stood, | and gathered her strength, From the eyes of Brynhild, | Buthli's daughter, Fire there burned, | and venom she breathed, When the wounds she saw | on Sigurth then. "
attestation: Thor is associated with the location Denmark.
"14. From the mountain forth | five days I fared, Till Hoalf's hall | so high I saw; Seven half-years | with Thora I stayed, Hokon's daughter, | in Denmark then."