Old Norse Skaldic Poetry by Women

Abstract

“Skald” is a term used to describe the poets of skaldic verse. This Norse poetic form was known for being playful and satirical, and verses devoted to insults were not uncommon, though many other topics, ranging from the mythological to the mundane, were present as well. Skalds enjoyed a degree of prominence that was unmatched by many of their contemporaries. As clients of the nobility, skalds were given a great deal of creative freedom even when it came to the more critical aspects of their poetry. While the majority of historically recorded skalds were men, women are also known to have been skalds. This seems to run counter to traditional Norse gender roles which, while perhaps less strict or oppressive than their continental Christian counterparts, nonetheless often relegated women to private spaces. However, a number of women skalds, or skáldkona, are attested in the historical record. This indicates a degree of flexibility toward secular female self-expression in the Norse world that was lacking elsewhere in Christian Europe.