"The Poetic Edda" is a collection of Old Norse poems from the medieval manuscript Codex Regius, which is a crucial source of Norse mythology and Germanic heroic legends. Composed by various unknown authors over centuries, the compilation includes mythological and heroic poems that explore the creation and end of the world, the exploits of gods like Odin and Thor, and the fates of heroes such as Sigurd the dragon-slayer. Rich in metaphor and ancient symbolism, these poems are fundamental to understanding the beliefs, values, and storytelling traditions of the Viking Age and have had a profound influence on later literature, art, and culture.

"The Sagas of Icelanders" is a collection of epic tales composed during the 12th and 13th centuries, recounting the lives, struggles, and adventures of early Icelandic settlers around the 9th to 11th centuries. These sagas provide a rich narrative that blends history with mythology, offering insights into the social structures, legal systems, and cultural values of medieval Iceland. Through stories of exploration, family feuds, voyages, and vendettas, the sagas portray the challenges and daily life of Norse men and women, highlighting themes of honor, power, and fate that shaped the Viking Age and left a lasting legacy on Icelandic identity.