Alvíssmál

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Alvíssmál (Sayings of Alvíss) is an Eddic poem relating a conversation Thor had with the dwarf Alvis ("All-Wise").

Alvíss comes to Thor to claim Thor's daughter as his bride. The daughter had apparently be promised to him earlier. Thor refuses, as he wasn't home, when the deal was done, unless Alvis can answer any question Thor poses. The rest of the poem is mainly a list of comparative names for different entities among men, Æsir, Vanir, giants, dwarves and elves, which Alvis dashes off in reply to Thor's questions. These terms presumably describes the character of their users, although a common denominator cannot easily be discerned. For example, the sky has the following names, according to Alvis:

Alvis has the answer to every single one of Thor's questions, but he is nevertheless outwitted. When the sun finally rise at the end of the poem, Alvis, being a dwarf, turnes to stone as its rays strike him. It is the only episode on record where Thor outthinks his adversary. He usually relied on brute force.

There is no action in the poem, and it stands entirely on its own, but it does contain words not found elsewhere, some doubtless the creation of its poet.

Categories: Sources of Norse mythology | Old Norse poems