Lokasenna: The Norse Poem of Loki's Locker Talk

Lokasenna is an Old Norse poem which tells of Loki insulting, and being insulted by, all the gods. In this video, an Old Norse expert discusses the poem and reads from it in Old Norse and English.
Dr. Jackson Crawford is Instructor of Nordic Studies and Nordic Program Coordinator at the University of Colorado Boulder (formerly UC Berkeley and UCLA). He is a historical linguist and an experienced teacher of Old Norse, Modern Icelandic, and Norwegian. Visit www.JacksonWCrawford.com
Music © I See Hawks in L.A., courtesy of the artist. Visit www.iseehawks.com/
Logo by Elizabeth Porter (snowbringer at gmail).
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Jackson Crawford’s translation of The Poetic Edda: www.amazon.com...
Jackson Crawford’s translation of The Saga of the Volsungs with The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok: www.amazon.com...
Jackson Crawford’s Patreon page: / norsebysw

[@LahmOfGod21]

Loki: The first Roastmaster

[@LahmOfGod21]

"It was just a bit of banter"

[@zackmartinelli4200]

Hahaha

[@user-pm1gb2eo1s]

Grisaille _Murders the god of peace_

[@YuutsuShumiOfficial]

What about the Cambion Wizard Merlin

[@Warpwaffel]

Lokasenna. The crossover episode of Norse mythology.

[@user-pm1gb2eo1s]

Warpwaffel Top 10 most ambitious anime crossovers

[@Paveway-chan]

Why wasn’t THIS in Thor: Ragnarok? 😂

[@Tumbledweeb]

Crossover? How so?

[@youcantbeatk7006]

@@Paveway-chan There's a song named Lokasenna in The Dark World's soundtrack.

[@symonjones43]

What happens on Samsø stays on Samsø is the funniest thing I've ever heard.

[@kolsveinnskraevolding]

Hmm, one wonders why Odin didn't cite Loki getting shagged by a horse in their 'who's more perverted' back and forth.

[@maxdamagusbroski]

He does doesn't he.. as far as I remember.

[@jasminea.3664]

Hamza Changazi Loki might take back Sleipnir then! He profited from that love affair. Plus I think Loki decided to insult everyone due to their general judgement of his character. I have a personal theory that Loki was historically like Set--a good god demonized through civil war by the victor. But we have so little knowledge of their history and only one sketchy piece of collected literature to judge from. However it is apparent that the Irish Lugh and Loki share mythology.

[@kolsveinnskraevolding]

***** So how do you account for Sleipnir's existence then?

[@KungKras]

There is a comic where Loki is framed and didn't kill balder. It was a really interesting take on the myth.

[@Druzica18]

where can i read this?

[@HonorarySaiyan]

To me it seems like Loki didn't care about beating anyone in a battle of wits. It seems like he was done with the Gods, almost begging for the tension between them to boil over. I always thought of Loki as an outcast, not really accepted and always used for the worst part of the Gods' "jobs", their adventures. Kind of treated like a fool. It would explain why he'd always feel jealous, why he killed Baldr, whom all the Gods loved and why he killed the servant that got praised. Of course, there will always be pieces of the puzzle that we can't find, pieces that would lead one to think something else entirely, but my theory always made me feel a little sorry for Loki and it's interesting to think about the whole morality of the Gods, which Loki questioned in this poem.

[@Jayman2800]

Loki is somewhat of a tragic character, but because he does the shittiest jobs nobody else wants to, he's one of the most valuable assets to the Æsir. Loki also seems ironically to have a hatred for arrogance and bravado, which is why he killed Baldur

[@Chantal2468]

Loki had nothing but Hypocrisy Disrespect and Excuses. You feel sorry for him? He knew what he got himself into. Its GOD and GODDESS business and it will be settled and made right at Ragnarok. I feel for Both Sides and In fact I pick NO Sides bc I am Balance. Do not feel sorry for Loki he Unleashed SIN upon the MidGard. Loki Hates Humans, Why would you not Hate him Back?

[@ericdburton91]

“You can’t carry well with two,” may be “You [couldn’t] carry well [even] with two,” thus literally adding insult to injury. If I’m not mistaken, Tyr was the finest swordsman among the gods before Fenrir bit off his sword hand? Loki may be calling BS on his skill while also jibing him for having lost his hand to honesty.

[@Lovyenn]

Loki's truth telling.... so essentially Loki's spilling the tea

[@hrothgleas1]

today phrase that learned just I that funny How

[@forgottoremembertofo]

13:20 translation: “I’ll give you a firearm, cash, and a car, just don’t ruin our party.”

[@user-vy3rc4yn1c]

That kids is how earthquakes are made

[@1974heathinn]

Alvissmal is my favorite of the Poetic Edda. My second favorite, and a close second is Lokasenna. The way Loki tears into everyone with no regard for station or courtesy is excellent. I am looking forward to receiving your translation of the Poetic Edda from Amazon as Lokasenna is the first thing I read in any translation. I really appreciate this video.

[@arnimellner3357]

ok this is random but your handwriting is really nice

[@ChrissieBear]

Very useful for my norse D&D game. Thank you.

[@zackmartinelli4200]

IoKnight that sounds fun.

[@arnimellner3357]

"a very....even-handed response" Literally at some of your comments i just cracked up. thanks so much for a very insightful + in depth video!! there was just SO MUCH in here and it makes me want to take one of your classes (sadly im on the other side of the country though). loki's crazy character development has always been one of the most confusing things about the myths for me, but also one of the most captivating... thanks again!!

[@NEprimo]

Árni be sure to glue yourself together, hope that crack wasn't literally too bad

[@Druzica18]

Loki @Tyr: "Hey, need a HAND?" (I'm sorry, I couldn't resist.) It's funny bc i have always read this poem as Loki essentially calling out the gods on their hypocrisy. (As well as getting in some shots--dammit Loki, not THOSE kind of shots!) He seems to have a bigger problem, for the most part, with the covering of the gods' sins than the actual sins themselves. (Many of which he has done himself, such as sleeping with pretty much everyone there.)

[@bendthebow]

Loki's Hard Truths

[@Son-of-Tyr]

When Loki says to Tyr "you can't carry well with two" perhaps he was insulting Tyr's prowess in battle (Tyr is a war god) meaning even when he had two hands he was no good in battle?

[@ecabernet]

I love this stuff. Also nice to see your channel growing almost +170% last 30 days and views increasing a lot. Good on you.

[@JacksonCrawford]

Thanks, I've been surprised by the growing viewership.

[@TheK3vin]

New viewer here, glad to be here! Great content, fun and educational.

[@DaneJarl]

One of your videos was posted to reddit and got on the front page a few weeks ago. I think that was the catalyst for new viewership.

[@TheDReturns]

I want to enroll at Berkeley just to take some of his classes. This shit is awesome.

[@dakotagoff2425]

Lokis a savage

[@seanhewitt603]

The only truly civilized person in Odin's retinue... And you think he's the savage?!?, Odin was a slayer of old men old women and pregnant girls. He raided villages when he knew the hunters were out hunting. A cowardly foppish weasel if I've ever met one..

[@lindalee7322]

I enjoyed that immensely, Jackson. Thank you.

[@jimrodarmel8512]

Don't know if anyone will see this, 6 years after the video's publication, but ... I noticed in this reading of the Loakasenna references to events of Ragnarok as being in the past as well as in the future. This seems to be more that just these events having been prophesied. Perhaps within the mythology, Ragnarok is viewed as being so cataclysmic that its effects are felt throughout time, as if it breaks the foundations of reality itself and effects precede their causes. Or maybe this is just an artifact of the translation and the way of discussing mythology; I'm certainly not an expert on these matters. I wonder if anyone has discussed this idea before?

[@seanhewitt603]

Ragnarok is the little death, it is the fear that brings obliteration. It is timeless, within the hearts of all Vikings everywhere, to remind them of Odins' "wisdom".

[@kingrichardiii6280]

Always found it funny that in "Thor: Ragnarok" Thor almost steals Loki's line in Lokasenna. Loki to Odin (Lokasenna): People say you once dressed as a woman and practiced witchcraft. Loki (Marvel): I don't know where he is. I am not a witch. Thor: Really? Why are you dressed like one?

[@TheDavid2222]

Thanks for the videos! You're doing a great service!

[@Wanderer_of_Sol]

Any chance we might get a video on the different meters of poetry? I can kind of hear the rhythm of galdralag, but having it broken down and explained compared to the normal meters could be a really interesting topic. Also I got a soft cover of your translation around Christmas. I'm really enjoying it so far. Very easy to read, and your knowledge on old norse, displayed in these videos, makes me a lot more confidant in the translation than I would be on versions I've read online.

[@JacksonCrawford]

Thanks very much for the kind words, and that definitely is a good potential topic for a future video. I have a very basic video on the differences between skaldic and eddic poetry that I made a while ago but it doesn't go into any detail on the different meters in the Poetic Edda: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4bFpmWee8t4bLc

[@theskoomacat7849]

"This video is not available" What is this error due to?

[@corymoon2439]

I am so glad you asked this as I learned to do eddic poetry from Dr. Crawford's video that probably only exists because you asked.

[@gnetkuji]

It's interesting that Loki deferred to Thor in that way, waiting until after Thor had threatened him like half a dozen times before finally saying "I'll leave because I know you and you alone mean your threats." I wonder if that was supposed to be sarcasm.

[@LustyLichKing]

gnet kuji Perhaps, but I picture it in my head as Thor growing in intensity with each time he re-states his threat. First time he was just nonchalant about it, "shut up or I will beat you up, scrub." By the last time his eyes must have been blazing, hammer drawn at the ready, very pissed off expression. At that point Loki knew Thor alone was about to back up his words with action, so he left quickly.

[@volsung5855]

For those looking for a closer analysis/interpretation, a good read is The trial of Loki: a study in Nordic heathen morality by Alan James. The jist of it is that the gods are tricking him into confessing his own guilt in the killing of Baldr.

[@twelphsoul]

your work , is magnificent.. i am glad i found you..your approach to anthro/linguistic/historical/myth is stupendous and exacting , refreshing to unveil the old ways of speaking and thinking in those forgotten days..

[@jackreacher4297]

Sheesh man your KZbin channel is amazing God bless you. Or the Aesir or what ever you may believe in. Thank you very much

[@tamanassman]

I"ve never heard Lokasenna deconstructed like this before... gotta say it's reminding me of Catullus, actually.....

[@SociologicProduct]

I definetly feel like Loki is the smartest of all the Gods, but that he's at the same time the least likable, so while Loki is getting all the hate and is true about their double-sidedness, everyone's happiness is essentially blissful ignorance to this, their truth, that Loki sees in all of them. That the whole thing is called Loki's truth is pretty spot on, I feel, because it tells of how Loki sees everyone for what they are, completely unfiltered, sees them for their actions, and not their words.

[@darthplagueis13]

Well... Heimdall sure does spend a lot of time standing

[@Chantal2468]

So, you feel sorry for a Hypocrite? He's not The Smartest he's, not the least likeable he said truths yes but he's a Hypocrite. He didn't get all the Hate. and in Fact, got Chance after Chance Loki was Jealous Killed Baldur and Now, he has to Pay.

[@Chantal2468]

I forgot to say this most Important thing. Loki is NOT the Smartest, Hés Clever but he's not Wise, this will be his Demise.

[@theartoflearning5961]

Can you do a full Old Norse reading of Lokasenna?

[@JellyfishButterGaming]

Damn now I feel bad for all the bad things I said about Frozen. I AM SORRY

[@CptEtgar]

Thanks. This is outstanding.

[@ironman8094]

Just bought your book cant wait for it to arrive! Keep up the great vids!

[@MClaudeW]

Lokasenna sounds like trading information

[@thelastmelon7187]

New to the channel, This was brilliant, this whole poem is in your book? May need to go and get a copy👍 keep up the grand work.

[@mikeneergaard5577]

I just went to samsø the other day, Beautiful island,

[@Izzystrickery29]

This is was a wonderful video

[@oddmustelid4339]

This is rather interesting and funny.

[@lindalee7322]

I just noticed, you read the Poem on my birthday. Cool!

[@RestIsSilence91]

I interpreted Lokis insult for Tyr like he was a bad swordfighter even with two hands and now he's even worse with one hand (?)

[@SatyaVenugopal]

Lol. I guess from the end of this episode onward, Odin has to starve/go without drink on account of his oath?

[@SarahParker00]

I bought your book and it arrived last night, It's absolutely great!

[@Xxh0mEr0xX]

Its was very amusing, keep the good work

[@RedSword69]

Thanks for sharing ! Interesting.

[@clipboss8052]

Welp, you can't have a feast until something is roasted! 😎✌

[@logancaine9616]

Loki. The Don Rickles of Asgard.

[@seanhewitt603]

He who father's the end of Valhalla, he who father's Ragnarok itself, you call a Joker?, wow, we have very different ideas of funny.

[@thomaswillard6267]

"Down on the Earth" being ambiguous has the same feeling as saying "Down east" to refer to the Maritimes from Southern Ontario.

[@sunshinesilverarrow5292]

Thank you. 🌞

[@xavierborgas4425]

Hi Jackson, I have got a question that I hope you are able to help me with. I have only recently gotten into Norse mythology, but I consider myself fairly well read when it comes to ancient Greek Mythology. One thing that I have observed is that all ancient Greek deities serve a purpose or lesson in broader Greek society, or at least seek to explain certain phenomenon. Loki really puzzles me when I try and approach Norse mythology with this mindset, as his character appears to be full of contradictions. He helps Thor with his hammer at one point, but is also a parent of many of the big bad monsters such as Fenrir and Jormungandr, and in Lokasenna, he seems to just be interested in stirring up the other gods. There is also of course his creation of the mistletoe spear/arrow which kills Baldr. What was Loki's significance to the people who subscribed to ancient germanic mythology. Was he simply a 'plot device', or did he serve to teach people lessons about certain aspects of life that I am missing?

[@user-pm1gb2eo1s]

Xavier Borgas I remember reading somewhere that criminals and outcasts occasionally worshipped him, but I can’t think of anything else.

[@lusomarga]

Loki is a trickster (look up tricksters in mythology), his main role is to subvert the rules, he is a destructive and unpredictable element in the order. His role is to remind us that no system is perfect and no system should take itself too seriously. His role is also somewhat similar to court jester, who is allowed to speak the truth in a playful way and thus provides an alternative 'reality check' feedback to those in power.

[@vermilionrubin]

@@lusomarga Loki was the vibe check

[@kaceyreed1284]

There are a few clues that he was worshipped by children as a protector of children, which considering how chaotic and mischievous both he and children are, makes a lot of sense 😆 There's also a bit of evidence that criminals and outcasts may have looked to Loki. But Loki seems to be more of a trickster character than a god, especially compared to the Greek gods with their sacrifices and temples. There's little evidence that Loki had any of that. He is someone that keeps the plot of the narrative moving, someone who creates problems, stuff like that. I love the idea of little children looking to him, like today's Santa Claus or Tooth Fairy, and maybe as they aged, they instead focused on the others, like Odin and Freya, the same way that we leave Santa behind as we age.

[@hyvakoira]

It's a pity so few stories survived from those that are referenced to in Lokasenna. Would have been fun to know the context for Loki living for 8 years "on the ground below" - whether it was a punishment of sorts or an unhappy consequence of some trick.

[@Chantal2468]

He chose to do it. Loki is the Trickster. Maybe he Tricked Himself or Tripped. LOL

[@Pagyptsian]

So, essentially the worst crime for goddesses (women?) was promiscuity?

[@lamebubblesflysohigh]

no yo mama jokes in this one?

[@WorgenGrrl]

I think there is a story involving Thor and a ferryman that is Odin in disguise, and the dialogue between the two is roughly a Ancient Nordic version of The Dozens.

[@ZiaElohka]

This is the first time I hear/read the third line of stanza 24 translated as Odin dressed in Wonen's clothes. This sheds a different light on the ongoing discussion about seidr being unmanly. So now I'm really curious to know what the poem actually says.

[@bethanyeschen-pipes3667]

He might have been referring to Rindr.

[@finn729]

I would like to learn more about how Sjælland was created.

[@trondsi]

Very interesting. I imagine you must cringe a bit if you see the series "Vikings" on TV. I know I do.

[@JacksonCrawford]

I've never seen it. I did cringe a little when I heard there was a character named "Porunn" (rather than "Þórunn," i.e. "Thorunn").

[@marthjod2926]

Jackson Crawford That's not true. She's correctly called Thorunn in the series.

[@JacksonCrawford]

I'm glad if that's so. Again, I haven't seen the show, so maybe what I heard was just something a fan of the show misunderstood.

[@thefnaffan2]

trondsi I think everyone who read the Sagas cringe at the show .. lol .. I know that I do

[@damonsmith1889]

Visually it's not bad, story/acuracy wise probably a bit of a joke but compared to marvels versions it's not the worst, just don't use it as educational and do your own research

[@bethanyeschen-pipes3667]

Maybe Rindr lived on Samsey...

[@adamcarey6093]

Thank you for making the video. I'd like to seriously study the language of Old Norse. Do you have any suggestions on where to start, as in which books?

[@JacksonCrawford]

Anthony Faulkes' and Michael Barnes' four-volume set called "A New Introduction to Old Norse," which is available free from the publisher in .pdf files you can download here: vsnrweb-publications.org.uk/ I also have a playlist that offers basic lessons ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWe4k3qCeJyMjc0 ).

[@adamcarey6093]

Thank you. I've watched almost all of your videos so far. I would love to take your classes but living in Kansas definitely limits my ability to attend. I'll check out those PDFs. I appreciate you pointing those out.

[@user-vy3rc4yn1c]

I have a new favourite word Pegi pú

[@theskoomacat7849]

Just google up "thorn letter" to make your pun count more, it's not hard :'D

[@paulbrule5897]

I do wonder however if all the insults from Loki are substantiated

[@Druzica18]

Some of them are, through other myths that are in the Eddas. But not all.

[@pueblonative]

Funny that these Norse tales boil down to f and s bombs

[@erho2967]

Insult/truth.... senna could be equivalent to a “Roast” I suppose?

[@ismata3274]

so, marvel was sort of right loki changing into woman and living as such when he pleases.

[@hyvakoira]

It's not specified in the text as the original story is missing, but it might be logical to assume having to live as a woman was a form of punishment Odin reminds him of rather than a deliberate choice.

[@cherryJ0lt]

Question: if there weren’t issues with printability or offense, would the f-slur be a more fitting translation for argr/ragr?

[@bfrobin446]

Probably about the right degree of offensiveness, but not as broad in the kinds of behavior referred to. “Sissy” has enough shades of meaning to better express the range of things the Norse would find unmanly.

[@nicholasoneal1521]

I dont think so, that too specifically refers to being gay.

[@bryanowens5138]

24:00 "We don't know that story but it's probably awful". Jackson, I think you meant to say "awesome".

[@IcaroArthur]

19:15 if the gods lives in Asgard, they must be refering to Midgard as down below.

[@theskoomacat7849]

Lol then I'm argr as hell.

[@theskoomacat7849]

Who's up for some womanly magic in crossplay?

[@ob7514]

Couldn't the "cow milking woman" words be a euphymism for being a woman and sleeping with men (and milking their "udders")? I've heard old people make insults in sweden (only once or twice though) where a man calls a another man an "udderpuller" (Spendragare). It would tie into the following statement that he has given birth.

[@artbyjpp5968]

Is there any chance that when it mentions Óðin living on Samsø that it could be a confusion of geography with the Sápmi or even Suomi?

[@klarisvayne2734]

How did Odin 'harvest' men for his army?

[@EmbraceAbsurdity]

By giving his "favor," if you will, to their enemies so they would be slain in battle and he could send his Valkyrja to bring them to be part of his army.

[@MadDrac]

hilarious

[@kellynh1051]

Before we had facebook...

[@PrussianJaeger]

A shame you had to dumb down the argr/ragr phrases.

[@seanhewitt603]

Three deaths for odin and valhalla. The first is the little death, the second is the death of self, and the third death is the death of reputation( the world finally sees the drunken oafs for the fools they are.)

[@TreyMinhVu]

Loki’s throwing shade. Or as RuPaul would say, Loki’s reading bitches 😂😂😂

[@saladin5]

So "senna" means "to insult" but has an etymology root meaning "some truth saying"?... so basically translates "satire" but with the original meaning including here some intoxication for better measure... yeah ok.

[@tompatterson1548]

using a mouth as a urinal sounds like some sort of sex thing, IDK if it's that awful!

[@marjorieford6257]

please do see psalm 82

[@janavanrossum6174]

I read it, but I don't see the connection with the Lokasenna?

[@marjorieford6257]

I hear Job 2:1-6 from the bible and like loki who gave birth to Odins 8 legged horse male/female hermaphrodite the more I read and see about lucifer the more I get the feeling this is loki !sometimes the truth is stranger then fiction!

[@Eldraug]

Loki and Lucifer are totally different. Loki is often cast as the Norse Satan in order to keep the good/bad trope on place. Loki serves a more complicated role than just the anti-Odin.