Hovamol

Hovamol was interesting to read mostly because of all the proverbs which were included in its text. I found it interesting to get a glimpse into the "moral guidlines" of the Viking lifestyle. A few of the stanzas stood out to me:

1) stanza 6:
A man shall not boast of his keenness of mind,
But keep it close in his breast;
To the silent and wise does ill come seldom
When he goes as guest to a house;
(For a faster friend one never finds
Than wisdom tried and true.)

I found this stanza interesting because many times (especially in the honor's college) it can come off as annoying or stuck up to brag about how smart you are or how good of grades you have. Saying these types of things is often a way to make people not like you. I also thought it would be a good thing for some of the characters in the other sagas we have read to keep in mind, especially Sarcastic Hali, who pretty much boasted of his "keenness of mind" everywhere he went.

2) stanza 12:
Less good there lies than most believe
In ale for mortal men;
For the more he drinks the less does man
Of his mind the mastery hold.

Obviously, the Vikings knew the effects alcohol could have on one's inhibitions and actions. I think this stanza is one that many people, especially college students should keep in mind before they decide to drink a little too much ;)

3) stanza 78:
Cattle die, and kinsmen die,
And so one dies one's self;
One thing now that never dies,
The fame of a dead man's deeds.

This stanza is an example of the belief that one must make a name for himself while living so that his name will be remembered long after he is gone. This reminded me strongly of the attitudes of many war heroes in movies, especially of Achilles in the 2004 movie Troy. This same belief is stirred in Achilles by his mother, who urges him to make a name for himself:

"If you stay in Larissa, you will find peace. You will find a wonderful woman, and you will have sons and daughters, who will have children. And they'll all love you and remember your name. But when your children are dead, and their children after them, your name will be forgotten... If you go to Troy, glory will be yours. They will write stories about your victories in thousands of years! And the world will remember your name. But if you go to Troy, you will never come back... for your glory walks hand-in-hand with your doom. And I shall never see you again."