The Prosimetrum of Old Norse Historiography – Looking for Parallels

Abstract

The present paper charts the development of the prosimetrum in the Old Norse kings' sagas. An introductory section illustrates the two main kinds of poetic citations found in the kings' sagas and presents the stated rationale for the inclusion of poetry in the kings' sagas. Section two gives a diachronic overview of the material showing how the balance between the two basic kinds of poetic citations changes across time and proposes a developmental model. Section three looks beyond the Old Norse materials and considers possible parallels to the Old Norse prosimetrum in the Medieval Latin and Arabic traditions.