Literature
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Snorri Sturluson

A major role in the medieval history of Icelandic literature was most certainly the role of Snorri Sturluson. He was born in 1178 as the son of the "Sturlunger" tribal chieftain and killed 1241. In the function of being a politician, he was involved in the chaotic rebellions during the 13th century which lead to the loss of independence of the island itself. Snorri`s efforts as a scholar and a man of letters are therefore of great importance.

Snorri Sturluson, deriving from the famous Skalden Egill Skallagrímsson, Markús Skeggjason and Einar Skúlason, was already in early years well-known for his poetic gift.
Reference: Rudolf Simek/Hermann Pálsson: "Lexikon der altnordischen Literatur". Stuttgart, 1987. page 326. (translation M. Süßegger)

He wrote many poems of which only Háttatal (written in 1222-3) was found complete.

His most important piece of work is the so-called Snorra-Edda used as a poet-manuel aswell as an introduction to the Germanic-Pagan Mythology. Snorri was not only a gifted poet but also an eager and critical historian. He wrote the Ólafssaga helga as well as a rather extentive history of the Norwegian kings, the Heimskringla. Although there is no proof, Snorri is presumably even the author of the Egils saga Skallagrímssonar.
Reference: Rudolf Simek/Hermann Pálsson: "Lexikon der altnordischen Literatur". Stuttgart, 1987. pages 326ff.

The Snorra-Edda encloses four parts: Prologue, Gylfaginning (the blinding of Gylfi), Skáldskaparmál (poetic expressions) and Háttatal (different types of metres). Háttatal is a praising poem dedicated to the King of Hákon Hákonarson and his Baron Skúli. It is only of a length of 102 stanzas but the important aspect is that it is written in 100 different metres. It is therefore a very impressive demonstration of Icelandic metric rules. The part of Skáldskaparmál describes the expressions used in Icelandic poetry. Because of its numerous rules and regulations, one needs an immense vocabulary.

Differing from other medieval legends, the Heimskringla is not a simple enumeration of historical events. It is the turning point in historical documentation as well as in prose, due to the use of coherent reports as a stilistic device for the first time revealing to the reader the historical background in its correlation. This new aspect in the Heimskringla is therefore a narrative, novelic way of writing. Snorris outstanding poetic talent enfolds much more intensely and had a large influence on the national consciousness in Norway and in Iceland.