From the Aeneid to Accent Theory: The Application of Classical Learning in the Medieval Icelandic Third Grammatical Treatise

Abstract This article has two aims. First, we describe a new analysis of the medieval manuscripts of the Third Grammatical Treatise, a thirteenth-century grammatical-rhetorical work by Óláfr Þórðarson focused on phonology and poetic devices, partly undertaken using new discoveries of close Latin models to evaluate Old Norse readings. Second, the article focuses on the challenges Óláfr faced in making use of his classical sources and the originality with which he resolved them; previous accounts have often downplayed his originality and inventiveness. We attempt to highlight aspects of Óláfr’s work that appear to result from independent contributions and we further undertake a close reading of Óláfr’s application of classical accent theory to Old Norse.