The term 'Poetic Norse Tales' refers to the Edda, a collection of Old Norse poems and stories from Iceland. The Edda was written in the 13th century and is divided into two parts: the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda. The Poetic Edda contains mythological and heroic poems, while the Prose Edda is a manual for skaldic poetry. Together, these two works provide a comprehensive overview of Norse mythology and culture.