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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 5 page research paper that analyzes an Icelandic medieval saga. The writer focuses on the structure of this work and argues that it was composed for the purpose of being read aloud to people confined on isolated farms during Iceland's long winter. This purpose accounts for the informal tone of the work, its "artless style," and its emphasis on kinship relationships. Bibliography lists 2 sources.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khnjal.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
is particularly true for "Njals Sage," which was composed for the purpose of being read aloud to people confined on isolated farms during Icelands long winter. This purpose accounts for
the informal tone of the work, its "artless style," and its emphasis on kinship relationships (Bayerschmidt; Hollander 5). There is little in the saga concerning the rigors of daily
life because these facts were familiar to the assembled people; and, therefore, of no interest. When one considers the whole of history, undoubtedly one of the most popular forms
of entertainment has been the art of storytelling. In Scandinavia, it is well known that preservation and recital of an oral history was cultivated from that areas earliest history (Bayerschmidt;
Hollander 7). This was particularly true in western and southern Norway, which is the area from which the bulk of Icelands population can trace their ancestry (Bayerschmidt; Hollander 7).
With the coming of Christianity, these oral traditions were set down in writing. Bayerschmidt and Hollander believe that the author of Njals Saga had at his disposal manuscripts that contained
earlier sagas and that he helped himself freely to their contents (Bayerschmidt; Hollander 7). Scholars believe this because of differences in style between sections of the saga. For example,
an analysis of the section detailing Thangbrands mission and the passages that deal with juridical procedure reveals that whole sections were simply lifted from written
sources that are now lost (Bayerschmidt; Hollander 7). There are also indications in the text that have led some scholars to speculate that a similar occurrence can be credit for
the creation of much of the genealogical material. "Njals Saga" is, in many ways, characteristic of medieval saga literature. For example, nearly all important events are foreshadowed in some
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