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.