Week Eight Reaction: The Saga of the Confederates

There were many small indications that this saga was written after the 'Saga Age' sprinkled throughout the text. There were absolutely no references to Pagan gods, premonitions, dreams, or fate, all themes which had been central in sagas that took place during the Saga Age. Instead, the characters all seemed to understand that they were completely in charge of their own actions, and had to rely on their wit, intelligence, and luck in order to find success.

The focus on the legal matters at the Althing also differed from sagas where the Althing was presented as a side-show, almost a silly invention of man meant to combat the will of the gods and fate. Here everyone seems aware that the old order is corrupt, making me wonder if this story could possibly have been meant as an allegory showing that the old Pagan ways were corrupt and Christianity was responsible for ushering in true justice.

Additionally, the poetry seemed very dry and un-inventive compared to poetry from the Saga Age, and only Ofeig composes poetry. When he first recites two verses to Egil, he moves directly from poetry into prose discussion without skipping a beat, and Egil seems hardly to notice. It is only later that Egil comments "That is not likely to happen, but you are a good poet" (481), which is quite an unenthusiastic response compared to the great gifts poets received from reciting during the Saga Age.

Week Seven Reaction: Hrafnkel Krey's Godi

Hrafnkel Krey's Godi raised some interesting points, in my opinion. It is definitely the most graphic saga so far, between the men being strung up by having a hole torn behind their ankles, and the horse that is led off the cliff with a bag over its head.

I was curious that since Hrafnkel had already killed so many, no one had yet tried to avenge the dead by killing him, instead of simply taking their grievances to the Althing. In other sagas, characters skip the legal issues and go straight to eye-for-an-eye, so it's interesting how different they can be. I thought the legal system at the Althing was fascinating. Sam (the most non-Viking name so far) was able to act as a prosecution lawyer, and the support of the godis seems to parallel juries or judges, but then Hrafnkel was not allowed to defend himself before sentencing. Very peculiar.

Week Six Reaction: Havamal

I found Havamal very bizarre, mostly in that it changes abruptly so many times, and interweaves proverbs, stories, and multiple characters as speakers. I was once again struck by how similar some of the Viking proverbs are to ours. The similar themes of friendship, honor, and especially wisdom are cross-cultural. I was not able to pick a favorite stanza, but have a few (sorry- I tried to narrow it down!):

12. Less good there lies than most believe
In ale for mortal men;
For the more he drinks the less does man
Of his mind the mastery hold.

I would not have expected anti-drinking stanzas, because I guess I was thinking the holding of liquor would be another manly quality, but this stanza surprised me. I think it is very wise. I did notice, however, that some other stanzas contradicted this one (like 19) in upholding honor of drinking everything a host places before you.

58. He must early go forth who fain the blood
Or the goods of another would get;
The wolf that lies idle shall win little meat,
Or the sleeping man success.

I got really excited when I read this one because it is like their version of “the early bird gets the worm.” I know I’ve said this before, but I find the fact that such sayings span oceans and centuries is so fascinating. Of course the first two lines of this stanza seem to imply battle or stealing instead of nature’s work, but I am certain the meaning is the same as ours today, however pastoral it may be.

94. Fault with another let no man find
For what touches many a man;
Wise men oft into witless fools
Are made by mighty love.

The girl in me had to put this one- the last line reminds me of a line from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice: “We are all fools in love.” Despite some of the other anti-feminist messages in Havamal, like never trusting a woman’s word, I think this stanza shows that the Vikings were still emotional beings who could get giddy and slightly idiotic when they fell in love, and were able to acknowledge that in their culture.

Week Five Reactions

This week we read The Saga of Gisli Surrson, and Njal’s Saga. The Saga of Gisli Surrson was very long and complicated, with way too many characters having the same names, especially all of those derived from ‘Thor’. For me, one of the most perplexing points in this saga was the inclusion of slaves. The slave in chapter 1, Kol, is given as part of a marriage dowry, and even owns his own sword that people have to ask to borrow. Later in the story, Gisli forces a dim-witted slave to die so he can escape. In another instance, he frees two slaves who help him, even though they have to do so at their master’s bidding. I am very curious about who these slaves were- descendants of people captured in war? People too poor to care for themselves? The slave in chapter 1, Kol, is given as part of a marriage dowry, and even owns his own sword that people have to ask to borrow.

This was the first saga we have read with an actual sorcerer, a human with supernatural powers. His curse on Gisli was very wise, but I found it odd that his magic only pertained to men who tried to help Gisli on the mainland. It was also interesting to see how far outside the main four men who first were involved in this conflict the story spread. By the end, I forgot who Eyjolf was or why he cared so much about killing Gisli.

Njal’s Saga, which is centered on Thangbrand, raises some interesting questions as well. The Christianity of the tenth century, of course, was very different from our version of Christianity today, but still many elements of this story were bizarre. The Christian missionaries killed some men who opposed them. They still believed the old Norse Gods existed, but only because the Christian God allowed them to. They believed in the power of sorcery. They lied to the King Olaf to force the conversion of Iceland. All of these small details combined make the conversion seem like a very different process than what I typically imagine, based on the Bible and stories of conversion in eastern Europe, especially Rome.