Major differences between Norse epic poetry and English epic poetry?

Question

I'm reading J.R.R. Tolkien's *The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún* and the commentary talks a little bit about differences between Old Norse and Old English epic poetry:> But Old English verse does not attempt to hit you in the eye. To hit you in the eye was the deliberate intention of the Norse poet.Norse poetry is also described as > pithy, strophic [i.e., stanzaic], often dramatic formand it> aims at *seizing a situation*, striking a blow that will be remembered, illuminating a moment with a flash of lightning - and tends to concision, weighty packing of the language in sense and formOld Norse poetry also has specific meters. What other major differences are there between Old English and Old Norse poetry?

Answer 1

Old Norse poetry contextually assumes that good and evil have battled and evil has won, Ragnorak is the name of that battle, thus, Old Norse poetry is very pessimistic and dark and stark. Conversely Old English poetry is hopeful, intriguing, very much aware that it is just beginning to take shape. It is a whole new language in its infancy, with its orthography (spelling) differing wildly, along with the pronunciation of each word!