the power of words.

More than a thousand years ago we had skalds in Norway. They had great influence on who was ruling because they were known to master both to have a way with words and to recognize the truth. The Vikings were not the only ones to have them in their system of ruling or governing; I am sure these guys had an important position, and served a cardinal purpose around the world, even if they had different titles and status from place to place; i.e. Court jester, minstrel, troubadour. They served the same role in the political, cultural and religious life everywhere.

By using the art of words he (never heard of a female one) could say almost anything to the Viking chieftain, without being threatened to be beheaded. When the skald expressed himself in his clever manner he was listened to, even if what he said was a reprisal in disguise. People would address the skald asking him to propose their problem or cause, in the quest to get a fair and, of course, favorable ruling from the chieftain.

At the same time a wise poet would be a useful adviser, for he could say difficult things in a way that was not taken offensive.

In earlier times few people could read, and even fewer write. So everyone had to carry the words in their head. Therefore it had to be well said, it should be easy to remember. What is in rhyme is remembered correctly more easily, because if a word is wrong, the rhyme fails.

 

Most people think that battling is a new, hip, revolutionary way to compete.The object of a rap battle is to come up with insulting rap lyrics on the spot (not pre-written or pre-meditated) and rap them towards an opponent. The rapper with the best delivery, lyrics, and crowd response usually wins. The Vikings did it too. The chieftain would send his skald out to battle agains an other chieftain's skald to settle disagreements. We find references to battling in literature from other countries and cultures too, so it was not something uncommon or unheard of.

Created during a time from when words only lived in the minds of people, to more knowledge of reading and writing, we started to write events and deals down. Through time and history, helped by literacy, skaldic art lost some of its importance, and developed into what we today consider poetry and even juridical documents.

From oral texts we entered a time where we trust what is written far more than what is said.

Skaldic art is like using words creating music, in its most effective and powerful way. The words employ and intensify the message.

Like music as we know it today, it can (and should) arouse emotions, or create images, or preferably both… Or sound so totally wrong that you just want to shut out and walk away: The kind of situation where you don’t even feel the urge to argue. You just want to turn and leave, even though you know it is not right to let what is said stand without contradiction.

To leave what is wrong alone is, in my opinion, to give credit to the misconception.

Today we are drowned in words. Maybe words are losing its strength  because we abuse them, but there was a time when a thoughtless word could cost lives, or a well-received poem could very well give wealth and honor, yes power. Kings and nobles enjoyed talented skalds or poets because the word of a man lived on long after the man, or woman, was dead.

Not long ago the pen was considered the strongest of weapons… maybe that is still true, if we use our words right.