essay

From sagas to society: the case of HEIMSKRINGLA

from sagas to society : comparative approaches to early iceland • Enfield Lock, Middlesex, Uk • Published In 1992 • Pages: 61-75

By: Bagge, Sverre.

Abstract

For many years the Icelandic sagas were largely foresaken as a factual source of information on early Iceland, in favor of skaldic poetry, archaeological evidence, and written laws and diplomas representative of this period. In essence, the sagas seem to have been considered more in the light of semi-fictionalized accounts of Icelandic history by many scholars and historians. This article attempts to encourage scholars to use the sagas once more as a source of cultural data, but in a new and more fruitful way (explained in the text). Although the present study deals mainly with Snorri Sturluson's 'Heimskringla', the ideas expressed in its pages are also considered relevant to other sagas as well. 'Heimskringla' was written around 1230 A.D. and traces the Norwegian kings from their mythical origin until immediately before the emergence of Sverrir Sigurðarson, the founder of the reigning dynasty of Snorri's lifetime (p. 62).

HRAF PubDate

2004

Region

Europe

Sub Region

Scandinavia

Document Type

essay

Evaluation

Creator Type

Historian

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

Analyst

John Beierle ; 2002

Field Date

no date

Coverage Date

ninth-thirteenth centuries

Coverage Place

general Iceland

Notes

Sverre Bagge

For bibliographical references see document 10: [Gísli Pálsson]

LCCN

93150093

LCSH

Icelanders