Alvíssmál

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Alvíssmál (Sayings of Alvíss) is an Eddic poem relating a conversation Thor (Old Norse: Þórr) had with the dwarf Alvíss ("All-Wise").

Alvíss comes to Thor to claim Thor's daughter as his bride. The daughter had apparently be promised to him earlier. Thor refuses, as he wasn't home, when the deal was done, unless Alvíss can answer any question Thor poses. The rest of the poem is mainly a list of comparative names for different entities among men, Æsir, Vanir, giants, dwarves and elves, which Alvíss dashes off in reply to Thor's questions. These terms presumably describes the character of their users, although a common denominator cannot easily be discerned. For example, the sky has the following names, according to Alvíss:

Himinn heitir með mönnum,

en Hlýrnir með goðum,

kalla Vindófni vanir,

Uppheim jötnar,

alfar Fagraræfr,

dvergar Drjúpansal.

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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.

—[Bellows translation]

Alvíss has the answer to every single one of Thor's questions, but he is nevertheless outwitted. When the sun finally rises at the end of the poem, Alvíss, being a dwarf, turnes to stone as its rays strike him. It is the only episode on record where Thor outthinks his adversary. He usually relied on brute force.

There is no action in the poem, and it stands entirely on its own, but it does contain words not found elsewhere, some doubtless the creation of its poet.

External links

English translations

[Alvissmol] Translation and commentary by Henry A. Bellows
[Alvíssmál] Bellows' translation with clickable names
[Alvíssmál] Translation by Benjamin Thorpe
[Alvísmál] Translation by P. B. Taylor and W. H. Auden
[Alvísmál] Translation by Lee M. Hollander
[The Wisdom of Alviss] Translation by A. S. Cottle

Old Norse editions

[Alvíssmál] Sophus Bugge's edition of the manuscript text
[Alvíssmál] Guðni Jónsson's edition with normalized spelling

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