Vikings, Half-Trolls and Saga-Authors: The Norwegian Hrafnistumenn and their Icelandic Descendants
By Valerie Broustin
Verlag Fassbaender
ISBN: 978-3-902575-97-5
Medieval Icelanders had a deep fascination with their ancestors, a theme vividly reflected in the sagas they wrote. This book explores four sagas set in Iceland’s early days, examining how these stories were preserved and passed down through generations.
Excerpt:
In the following study I initially address the concept of authorship and textuality in Medieval Iceland which differs clearly from our present understanding (chapter 2). Subsequently, the historical context will be briefly considered. The reaches from the settlement of Iceland in 870 to around 1400, describing therefore the period from the settlement by the first descendants of the Fornaldarsögur heroes in Iceland to the end of the century in which the Hrafnistumannasögur were presumably written (chapter 3). Chapter 4 is devoted to the genre concepts Fornaldarsögur (4.1) and Riddarasögur (4.2). Other genres, such as Biskupasögur or Konungasögur, are not considered more closely here as they are more starting points rather than objects of investigation. Chapter 5 deals explicitly with the Hrafnistumannasögur as its focus of investigation.
Who is this book for?
This book is intended for scholars of Icelandic sagas and history. While the four sagas examined are not among Iceland’s most well-known, this study highlights their significance in revealing important connections among Icelandic families.
Vikings, Half-Trolls and Saga-Authors: The Norwegian Hrafnistumenn and their Icelandic Descendants
By Valerie Broustin
Verlag Fassbaender
ISBN: 978-3-902575-97-5
Medieval Icelanders had a deep fascination with their ancestors, a theme vividly reflected in the sagas they wrote. This book explores four sagas set in Iceland’s early days, examining how these stories were preserved and passed down through generations.
Excerpt:
In the following study I initially address the concept of authorship and textuality in Medieval Iceland which differs clearly from our present understanding (chapter 2). Subsequently, the historical context will be briefly considered. The reaches from the settlement of Iceland in 870 to around 1400, describing therefore the period from the settlement by the first descendants of the Fornaldarsögur heroes in Iceland to the end of the century in which the Hrafnistumannasögur were presumably written (chapter 3). Chapter 4 is devoted to the genre concepts Fornaldarsögur (4.1) and Riddarasögur (4.2). Other genres, such as Biskupasögur or Konungasögur, are not considered more closely here as they are more starting points rather than objects of investigation. Chapter 5 deals explicitly with the Hrafnistumannasögur as its focus of investigation.
Who is this book for?
This book is intended for scholars of Icelandic sagas and history. While the four sagas examined are not among Iceland’s most well-known, this study highlights their significance in revealing important connections among Icelandic families.
You can learn more in this article: Peasant Heroes and Troll Ancestors: A New Look at Icelandic Sagas
The Author
Valerie Broustin is a Research Associate at the University of Bonn, where she focuses on the sagas and mythology of the Norse world.
You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website.
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