Week Four Reaction: The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue

I was very interested in the aspects of this saga that reflect myths of other cultures concerning love triangles and prophecies. I find it fascinating that the same types of stories evolve in places isolated from each other in time and distance. The themes that can be traced in multiple cultures’ stories must reflect elements of human life that are the most commonly shared experiences by all people.

I also found it easier this week to navigate the story without an objective narrator. The characterization was more obvious to me. I found fate to be the most important theme of this saga. I was also interested in how Helga contributed to the image I have of Viking women, and in the proverbs listed throughout the saga. These proverbs are insightful because they reflect what the society valued as a whole.

The writing style is simplistic and easy to understand, but I find that it also takes away some of the dramatic effect. This story, told in modern prose, would most likely induce a more emotional response because of the tragedy. As it stands, I as a reader felt slightly detached from the emotions of the characters because I was more focused on other elements of the story.