General Bardic Studies 1

Now that I have finished and passed Divination 1 and Liturgy 1 in my quest to finish the Initiates Path of ADF, I have decided to start on Bardic Studies 1.  The first question of six is, "Discuss in general terms the bardic arts prevalent within a single (preferably ancient) Indo-European culture; explain how those bardic arts fit into that culture and religion.(300-600 words)."  The below is my take on how to answer this question.  I'd love some feedback and editors are always welome!  I sucketh much at the grammer stuff ;)

During the Viking Age in Scandinavia and Iceland, there existed a group of poets of a bardic tradition called Skalds. These were poets of the courts who often wrote simple dramatic dialogue (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/547241/skaldic-poetry) as well as heart rending poems of personal loss and tragic death.  Many times the subjects of their poems would cover the mythological engravings on shields and these poems were called shield poems. Other types of poetry could cover how great a given monarch was, as well as epitaphs and genealogies. The majority of surviving Skaldic poetry was written specially for courtiers and seems to be mostly the recounting of the great deeds of Kings and nobles. The reputation of a King could easily be destroyed by a skald who did not feel that he had been treated well while at court. 

When a King died, it was not unknown for the court skald to write a poem telling about the King’s last battle and consequent reception into the hall of Valhalla.  One of these types of poems was written for the Christian King, Hakon the Good (http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/onp/onp13.htm). Even though Hakon was a Christian, he was considered a friend of the heathen Gods upon the time of his death and thus worthy of reception into Valhalla. 

“19
Then was it seen
how that sea-king had
upheld the holy altars,
since Hákon all
did hail with welcome,
both gods and heavenly hosts.
20
On a good day is born
that great-souled lord
who hath a heart like his;
aye will his times
be told of on earth,
and men will speak of his might.
21
Unfettered will fare
the Fenriswolf,
and fall on the fields of men,
ere that there cometh
a kingly lord
as good, to stand in his stead.
22
Cattle die
and kinsmen die,
land and lieges are whelmed;
since Hákon
to the heathen gods fared
many a host is harried.”

The Lay of Hakon (Hakonarmol) by Eyvind Finnsson Skaldaspillir 

A number of the surviving poems are of mythological subjects such as the poem called, “The Porsdrapa,” which is retelling of how Thor went on a quest to battle the frost giants (https://notendur.hi.is//~eybjorn/ugm/thorsd00.html).

Song, poetry, and magic were all the domain of the skalds.The Norse God Odin was the God of war, magic, and poetry and would have been viewed as a type of patron of the Skalds (Andrews). One famous Skald by the name of Egill Skallagrimsson was said to have cursed King Eiríkr Bloodaxe (Eric I) by inscribing the spell of runes on a pole (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/180271/Egill-Skallagrimsson). One of Egill’s most famous poems was written as a lament for the death of his two sons. During this poem Egill struggles with the All Father and declares his hatred of the God. By the end of the poem Egill relents and thanks the All Father for his gifts of words and song (http://odins-gift.com/pclass/sonatorrek.htm).

“Forgive his fate
And forget I will not
Odin, not Egil
Enjoys him for ever,
He has stolen my son,
The sapling growth
From my wife´s womb
The warrior-seed.
The spear-god shared
Spoil with me,
My oath was to Odin,
He gave me aid:
Now that maker of mystic 
Runes only mocks me
Voids all my victories,
That breaker of vows.
I´ll make offerings to Odin
Though not in eagerness,
I´ll make my soul´s sacrifice
Not suffer silently:
Though this friend has failed me,
Fellow of gods,
To his credits he comforts me
With compensation.”

Sonatorrek (Lament for the Son) from the Egil´s Saga.