The Viking’s bloodthirsty Skaldic poetry

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Skaldic verse was composed to celebrate Viking rulers over one thousand years ago. During King Cnut’s reign of England (1016-1035), the verses often took on new influences from Christianity. Eleanor Parker, lecturer in Medieval English Literature at Brasenose College, Oxford University, UK, reads from the Knútsdrápur. Image: Vintage engraving showing Danish Vikings invading Britain (duncan1890/Getty Images)