is one of the poems of the edda, in

metre, preserved in two complete versions in medieval Icelandic manuscripts: 63 stanzas in the

manuscript of the edda poems from around 1270 (“Konungsbók eddukvæða

”), and 59 stanzas in

, the relevant section being dated to the middle years of the 14th century (

1892-96). In addition, 28 stanzas from

are quoted, in part or in whole, in the various manuscripts of Snorri Sturluson’s

from the early thirteenth century, the forms being very close to those in

. Much of the material of the poem is also paraphrased in the manuscripts of Snorri’s

.

The numbering of the stanzas varies considerably in editions of the poem – for two principal reasons. Firstly,

4608 words

Citation: Sigurðsson, Gísli. "Völuspá". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 13 October 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=40793, accessed 21 November 2024.]