skaldskapur

Skaldskapur, or skáldskapr in Old Norse and Icelandic spelling, refers to the craft and body of skaldic poetry produced by court poets (skalds) in medieval Scandinavia and Iceland. The term combines skáld 'poet' with skapr 'creation, craft' or 'poetry'. Skaldskapur is characterized by intricate prosody, chiefly the dróttkvætt metre, and by the use of kennings—metaphorical compounds such as the sea being called the "whale-road"—as a hallmark of its diction. Poems are typically composed to praise patrons, recount heroic deeds, or recount mythic stories, often performed at feasts and diplomatic occasions.

Historically, skaldic poetry flourished from the early Viking Age through the medieval era, especially in Norway, Denmark, and Iceland. It was preserved mainly in Icelandic manuscripts and in the sagas, with notable composers such as Egill Skallagrímsson and Bragi Boddason. Snorri Sturluson later codified much of its poetics in Skáldskaparmál, a section of the Prose Edda, providing lists of kennings and devices and a guide to interpreting poetry.

Formally, skaldskapur is known for its dense, alliterative verse, complex line structure, and rich allusions to myth, legend, and the heroic pantheon. The tradition influenced later Icelandic literature and laid the groundwork for scholarly study of mediation between language and imagery. Today, skaldskapur is studied as a key source for Norse myth, medieval history, and the aesthetics of court poetry.