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Old Norse poetry is characterised by Alliteration , a poetic vocabulary expanded by Heiti , and use of Kennings . An important source of information about poetic forms in Old Norse is the Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson . Old Norse poetry is conventionally, and somewhat arbitrarily, split into two types; Eddaic Poetry (also sometimes known as ''Eddic'' poetry) and Skaldic Poetry . Eddaic poetry includes the poems of the Codex Regius and a few other similar ones. Skaldic poetry is usually defined as everything else not already mentioned. METRICAL FORMS Old Norse poetry has many metrical forms. They range from the relatively simple Fornyrðislag ) to the deeply complex Dróttkvætt , the "courtly metre". In Eddic poetry, the metric structures are generally simple, and are almost invariably Ljóðaháttr or fornyrðislag. Ljóðaháttr, (known also as the "metre of chants"), because of its structure, which comprises of broken stanzas, lends itself to dialogue and discourse. Fornyrðislag, "the metre of ancient words", is the more commonly used of the two, and is generally used where the poem is largely narrative. It is composed with four or more syllables per line. Other metrical forms include
EDDAIC POETRY ''Main article: Poetic Edda '' The Eddaic poems have the following characteristics.
SKALDIC POETRY ''Main article: Skaldic Poetry '' The Skaldic poems have the following characteristics.
Skaldic poems Most of the skaldic poetry we have are poems composed to individual kings by their court poets. They typically have historical content, relating battles and other deeds from the king's carrier.
A few surviving skaldic poems have mythological content.
To this could be added two poems relating the death of a king and his reception in Valhalla .
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