Vǫluspá: The Norse Poem of Creation and Ragnarok

[@OndrikusMC]

Voluspå was actually how I first found your channel. I was looking for a Bokmål translation of it, but only found Nynorsk translations. I noticed "Jackson Crawford" as the author of one of the translations, which was not the kind of name I expected as an author of an Old Norse-Nynorsk translation. So I googled you, and found this. It's great.

[@JacksonCrawford]

I think you may be one of about 5 people who have ever noticed my Nynorsk translation of Vǫluspá. Thanks for the kind words.

[@OndrikusMC]

Haha, it's actually featured as one of the four Norwegian translations on heimskringla.no. I'd imagine it's used by a lot of students, probably more than you'd expect.

[@JacksonCrawford]

I hope so. Thanks again.

[@madcogwheel8336]

This world needs you

[@valeriacampos787]

I recently bought your translation but english is not my first language so there were some things I was struggling to understand, I came looking for videos that could help me with those parts and found that you have a channel! The video really helped me clear things up, thank you!

[@dabrigley]

Decades ago, I studied Old English, Medieval Epic and Romance, including numerous Sagas (Volsungsaga, Njall's Saga, etc.) at UNH. In doing some genealogical research more recently, I learned that I have a Norwegian great-grandmother. I have since visited Norway, learned a pitiful amount of Bokmål, and perform Wardruna's version of Vǫluspá on my lyre. I just discovered your channel while looking for something to watch while running on the treadmill during the pandemic lockdown! Needless to say, you have a new subscriber!

[@italoximenes8755]

That channel is just perfect. Loved the vide!

[@gweiloxiu9862]

You have a gift of bringing these stories to life in a way I feel is consistent with their architects intent. I truly hope you are your own voice actor for the audiobook of your Poetic Edda translation. There is NOTHING like hearing the Vǫluspá read aloud in the sober manner which reflects the respect that this material demands. Heard in that way, free of all the bells and whistles, the weird sounds, and the sing-song effect that plagues most online readings of material of the Poetic Edda, suspension of disbelief is intact and the darkness and power of Ragnarok comes roaring through. Stanzas 44 and on (starting at about 17:00 on the vid) is some of the heaviest, darkest material you will ever hear in any medium. That is some serious art. Dr. Crawford, your format of reading only a few stanzas in old norse, then in english, followed by a brief but complete narration, is incredibly effective. You should do the entire Poetic Edda exactly like that in a series of videos. You'd make a killing either by selling it as an audiobook, or by offering it as a bonus for top tier patreon donors. Just sayn :-)

[@JacksonCrawford]

Well thank you very much. I don't think there will ever be an audiobook of my translation, but if the response to this video (and the similar one I just made about Hávamál) is good, I may continue to make similar videos for the other poems in the Poetic Edda.

[@gweiloxiu9862]

Quite welcome. Yes, please do make more like this. What I find interesting, almost ironic, is that this entire body of this work has developed almost entirely from an oral tradition but its contemporary vehicle of dissemination is almost exclusively written. A fun project in the making perhaps.

[@missratatoeskr8498]

Greetings from the North and a big thank you for all your fantastic videos! I have only recently come across a music band called "Wardruna" who seeks to revive music with traditional instruments... Apparently they are also responsible for the majority of film music in the "VIkings" series. They also have a great song entitled "Völuspá" - and it is what it says: A musical like rendering of the original poem... bardic style... Fantastic work and worth checking out if you are not familiar with the band already... I hope you enjoy it as much as I did...despite the fact that I cannot vouch for the correctness of their pronunciation ;-)

[@a3g4rodriguezg.8]

I loved your translation. In fact, it was great.

[@VredesStall]

Another awesome and insightful video. Thank you so much, Dr. Crawford.

[@ziltzerzapper8449]

Thanks for making the videos you do. I've heard about the riots and I know that must have been pretty tough. We the subscribers do enjoy and appreciate the content you make, even more so that you upload it regularly.

[@AmirRehman]

What a coincidence to find your video now. I'm actually reading your book right now. Fantastic work. And by the way, you could totally voice one of the gods! Thanks for the book and the videos!

[@simonegray67]

Thank you! What a great listen this was. I was searching the internet to learn more of the Voluspa, and this was perfect. Definitely will be looking into more of your videos for my research.

[@historywithhilbert146]

That was another very interesting video Dr Crawford, thank you again. You mention them several times in passing in this video and because you recently made a video on the Elves and the Dwarves, might you consider making a video about the Jötunn as well? In your creation video you mention they are like the Æsir in many ways, and are their sworn enemies because of the killing of their father, Ymir, but how do they differ from the Gods, for they speak, act and do in many ways like the Gods in many of the old tales, even marrying with and copulating with them on occasion. I think that would be an interesting topic that I've been curious about after watching your recent videos. Thanks for all your hard work, Hilbert

[@JacksonCrawford]

Thanks as always for the kind words. I might make a separate video about giants/jǫtnar; for now probably the closest thing that I've made is this very short one about the relationship between the gods and giants: kzbin.info/www/bejne/epOWZZZvd8uWjNU

[@historywithhilbert146]

They are thoroughly deserved for all the hard work you do. Thank you for replying to my question, I shall go and watch the mentioned video and look forward to your future video on the jǫtnar :)

[@faramund9865]

Je bent ook echt overal hè

[@tylerrichards1585]

Thank you for your work. You are incredible intelligent and have done people like me an unimaginable service. It is not easy to find easily accessible creditable information such as this. Thank you again!

[@jessiehermit9503]

Every spreader of wisdom is a true son of Odin in my book. 😀 So thanks for this.

[@valeriy8502]

Indeed an Odinic path 😊🙏

[@ianhedges7001]

Odin is the aseir of knowledge

[@emilypaxton5601]

Thank you so much! This is so interesting. ^^ I definitely want to read your translation - I love Medieval European literature of all kinds - the older the better.

[@thomassulmon748]

Fascinating!!!

[@heathenvvitch4232]

Oh wow i didn't know that that edition/translation was yours!! Congratulations and thank you so much for your work

[@emiliohernandez7214]

Hope I don't offend you or anyone else but omg I could hear you talk in Old Norse and read Nordic poems all day lol

[@zacharydetrick7428]

Thank you very much for this video, it will be useful for my Norse Mythology class.

[@melbatoast1548]

THANK YOU!!!!!

[@Jay-pj5tg]

love your videos!! So wonderful that this information is so accessible :)

[@1.1797]

Got your book, The Poetic Edda, yesterday. Just opened it, a good ways into the intro and man is it awesome! Great book, man!

[@dubtowndaddybigdbz8147]

I Absolutely love these videos!! Keep it up Odin is Proud!

[@Moishe555]

It feels like this is suppose to be performed, and the Seeress is addressing an audience by saying, "have you all seen enough?"

[@jessiehermit9503]

I worship the old gods myself. This is great!

[@elchanchito1262]

Dear Dr. Crawford, I'm following your videos for quite some time now and your passion for the Old Norse language has caught on to me. In some of your older videos you presented a choice of books both regarding vocabulary and grammar which I found very useful indeed for learning Old Norse. I am however also interested in modern Icelandic and since your former choice of books worked so well for me I was wondering if you also had a recommendation for modern Icelandic. If so, could you please tell them to me, or maybe even do a video on them? Until then, all the best to you!

[@JacksonCrawford]

There is a good teach-yourself textbook that comes with audio called "Colloquial Icelandic" by Daisy Neijmann that's available on many sites like Amazon. The University of Iceland also has a basic course in Modern Icelandic that you can take for free at icelandic.hi.is/

[@alangregory5580]

Thank you, regards from uconn in ct

[@arturochavezchibli6165]

Awesome Am from México but I love all about norse I even have a berkhana tatto

[@psychogerbil64]

just realised that at 17:40 Tolkien took the Rohirrim speach from the Vǫluspá aswell

[@murphydaveelte]

Thankyou for sharing your knowledge. Your norse pronounciation sounds amazing - I could listen to that all day? Have you made a recording of you reading extended sections of the Voluspa anywhere?

[@brigidcox2046]

Gandalf yea!

[@julesmpc1314]

Excellleeeennttt

[@blueunicornhere]

When i hear you say dr. Crawford i picture you in tbe cowboy hat and want to call you Doc Crawford.

[@SiberianSoldier]

Excellent. I assume you work in the Scandinavian department? I'm trying to get into the Celtic Studies program myself.

[@NetherStray]

I didn't realize Aiden Turner was a scholar of Norse mythology. Gracious me.

[@mbe102]

Honest question is Volva where the word Vulva came from?

[@SustainedDissonance]

It seems that English vulva comes from Latin vulva/volva whereas this word is related to the Old Norse word for "staff". So, no, just coincidence.

[@flensdude]

I think they both share a common origin, however, _vulva_ is a Latin word and is not the same as _volva_, which is Norse. Edit: Their common origin in PIE might be *wel- ("to turn", "to revolve").

[@JacksonCrawford]

No. Old Norse 'vǫlva' is probably derived from Old Norse 'vǫlr' ("staff"), which was presumably a tool of her trade. The other word you mention is from Latin (it's possible that they both come from the same Indo-European root "to turn," as another commenter observed, but still the English word isn't directly from the Norse word for "witch/prophetess").

[@404Dannyboy]

Jackson Crawford What I choose to take from this is that vulvas can foretell of the end of the world.

[@devinbarnett8052]

In stanza 28 in this video he says shining waters but in his book he says famous waters so is it shining or famous?

[@KittyBatSeth]

Question? am I off base in reading this as she really wanted to just go back to being dead and punished Odin for his insistence by "Cassandra-ing" out exactly what he needed to hear in order to set forth the actions that would cause Ragnarok in the first place?

[@aistem]

very handsome

[@VladimirVargovich]

Does your books have the nordic/rune/younger futhark version written along with the translation Jack?

[@Corinnecy]

Can we buy your books directly from you or do we have to go through amazon?

[@bullvinetheband7260]

In the edda theirs a phrase which states that Baldr was red at birth can you clarify what that means?

[@millefolium9303]

I am not an Expert on old Norse, but as a norwegian, it sounds to me that the storyteller is male. «Viltu at ek, Valfodr» Willyou that i, Valfodr tell you... Fodr=father=male But then later verse 22 speaks about a Volva, Heidi, that is very skilled at Magic and proficy. But her relevance to the rest of the story is unclear, as the next verse jumps to a different topic. So it Leaves me wondering who is telling the story and who is telling the proficy?

[@samuelterry6354]

I thought that using the plural you as a formality came form romance influence.

[@JacksonCrawford]

Whatever its origin, it is common in Old Norse.

[@jessiehermit9503]

Farbauti does mean "cruel striker," right? Am I right in interpreting that as possibly having to do with lightning?

[@cooldogbearbutt3806]

It's been a while.

[@albertmerlew]

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