The Literature Book

53

See also: Iliad 26–33 ■ Beowulf 42–43 ■ The Song of Roland 48 ■ Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart 50 –51 ■

Cantar de Mio Cid 56–57 ■ Ivanhoe 150 ■ Kalevala 151 ■ The Lord of the Rings 287

HEROES AND LEGENDS

Written in the early 13th century,

the Icelanders’ sagas, also known

as family sagas, are heroic prose

narratives that focus especially on

genealogical (family) history, and

describe the various struggles

and conflicts that took place.

The realism, starkly beautiful

writing, and vivid description of

character in the family sagas mark

them as the highpoint of classical

Icelandic saga writing. Among

the better known are Egil’s Saga,

Laxdæla Saga, Grettis Saga, and

Njal’s Saga. Some scholars believe

that Snorri Sturluson may have

written Egil’s Saga, but the other

authors are unknown.

A tragic blood feud

Njal’s Saga, or “The Story of Burnt

Njal,” is one of the longest of the

Icelanders’ sagas and is generally

considered to be the finest. The

saga is written in prose, with some

verse embedded in the narrative,

and recreates Icelandic life during

its heroic period, describing events

that occurred among the great

families between the 10th and 11th

centuries. Episodic and bleak, Njal’s

Saga is essentially the account of

a 50-year blood feud that touches

the lives of a wide range of complex

and vividly drawn characters.

Much of the narrative focuses

on the two heroes: Njal, a wise,

prudent lawyer, and his friend

Gunnar, a powerful but reluctant

warrior. Both are peaceful men,

but the demands of honor and

kinship ties draw them and their

families into bloodthirsty feuds

with tragic consequences. In some

way—in its length, content, and

psychological themes—Njal’s Saga

is similar to a modern novel. The

relationships and characters are

familiar and believable. The issue

of honor and the consequences of

vengeance are the key themes, but

the saga also explores the role of

law in settling disputes.

A powerful influence

The Icelandic sagas portray

warriors, kings, strong men, and

powerful matriarchs. Calling on

historical events and tumultous

times but containing older myths

and legends, they present a

realistic picture of a vanished

society, as well as fantastic tales

and romances.

The collection of stories

represents some of the greatest

writing in European medieval

literature. They also had a powerful

influence on later writers, notably

Sir Walter Scott, the 19th-century

Scottish poet and playwright, and

J. R R. Tolkein, the 20th-century

English fantasy writer. ■

The Konungasogur tell of the deeds of the kings

of Scandinavia and are the highest form of saga

writing. Snorri Sturluson’s Heimskringla, c.1230,

about the kings of Norway, is the best known.

The Sturlungasogur deal with internal struggles in

Iceland in the 12th and 13th centuries. Rich in

social history, they were written—unlike the family

sagas—not long after the events took place.

The Fornaldarsogur deal with events before the

settlement of Iceland and include the Volsung Saga,

c.1270. In addition to mythology and Germanic hero

legends, there are adventures in far-off lands.

The Riddarasogur contain translated Norse

versions of the Romance language tales aimed

at a popular readership. One of the earliest,

c.1226, is the story of Tristan.

The Islendingasogur is a class of prose

genealogical histories about the early

generations of settler families in c.930–c.1030.

Their authorship is unknown.

Contemporary

sagas

Sagas of

antiquity

Chivalric

sagas

Family

sagas

Literature of the Northmen

Never break the peace which

good men and true make

between thee and others.

Njal’s Saga

Sagas of

the kings

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