
So would the originals of these lays have been carried down in oral tradition? I'm not sure which would be harder to memorize: something spare like this or something lyrical?
That describes it perfectly! I think you're right that the sparsness also means that only the very relevant or dramatic is described. The 'meat' if you like. Another reason why it's so vivid.marbretherese wrote:It's "grab-you-by-the-throat" poetry (how appropriate for the conflct and bloodiness of the subject matter!) rather than lyrical poetry.
I thought so too! And I couldn't put it down either. I was sitting in the garden reading it when my neighbours came out with their grandchildren and various family members just as I was getting to the end. There was loud laughter and joking, and I couldn't stand the lighthearted interruption. I had to take it in with me to finish itmarbretherese wrote:Wow! Tolkien's Lay of Gudrún is even more sparse and grab-you-by-the-throat than his Lay of the Völsungs