Lokasenna

Lokasenna, commonly translated Loki’s Flyting, is a poem in the Poetic Edda that centers on a banquet among the Aesir. It is one of the best-known Norse poetry pieces featuring Loki as a central figure and is often cited as an example of the flyting tradition in medieval literature.

In Lokasenna, Loki attends a feast in Asgard with the other gods and goddesses and proceeds to unleash a long sequence of invective directed at them. The verses present a bitter exchange in which Loki confronts the divinities with accusations about their behavior and past deeds. The gods respond with rebuke, and Bragi, the god of poetry, as well as other attendees, attempt to restore order to the assembly. The exchange ends with Loki leaving the hall, illustrating the fragility of social order even among the gods.

Manuscripts and dating: Lokasenna is part of the Poetic Edda, a collection preserved in Icelandic manuscript tradition, most notably in the Codex Regius (circa 1270s) and related manuscripts. While the surviving text dates from the 13th century, most scholars believe the poem represents older oral material, likely formed in the early medieval period. It draws on traditional Norse myth and skaldic storytelling.

Form and themes: The poem is composed in traditional Old Norse alliterative verse, typically classified as fornyrðislag, and exemplifies the flyting genre through a confrontation filled with sharp wit and insult. It offers insight into Loki’s role as a disruptive figure and into the social dynamics of the Aesir at a ceremonial gathering, while also contributing to debates about the reliability and portrayal of the gods in Norse tradition.

Influence and reception: Lokasenna has influenced scholarly discussions of Loki, divine hospitality, and Norse myth, and it has been a reference point in translations and adaptations of the Poetic Edda.