 It includes a long introduction, a short grammar of Old Norse, a glossary, an index of names and selections from the "Poetic Edda" as well as a number of other sagas (all in Old Norse).The introduction of the text traces the literary history of Old Norse and describes the literary merits, historical accuracy, and compositional style of Old Norse texts.In it, Gordon draws comparisons to other languages and texts of the Middle Ages such as the Old English epic poem "Beowulf".