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Story, World and Character in the Late Íslendingasögur
Rogue Sagas
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Rebecca Merkelbach
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
2024
About this book
Argues for new models of reading the complexity and subversiveness of fourteen "post-classical" sagas.
The late Sagas of Icelanders, thought to be written in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, have hitherto received little scholarly attention. Previous generations of critics have unfavourably compared them to "classical" Íslendingasögur and fornaldarsögur, leading modern audiences to project their expectations onto narratives that do not adhere to simple taxonomies and preconceived notions of genre. As "rogues" within the canon, they challenge the established notions of what makes an Íslendingasaga.
Based on a critical appraisal of conceptualisations of canon and genre in saga literature, this book offers a new reading of the relationship between the individual, paranormal, and social dimensions that form the foundation of these sagas. It draws on a multidisciplinary approach, informed by perspectives as diverse as "possible worlds" theory, gender studies, and social history. The "post-classical" sagas are not only read anew and integrated into both their generic and socio-historical context; they are met on their own terms, allowing their fascinating narratives to speak for themselves.
The late Sagas of Icelanders, thought to be written in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, have hitherto received little scholarly attention. Previous generations of critics have unfavourably compared them to "classical" Íslendingasögur and fornaldarsögur, leading modern audiences to project their expectations onto narratives that do not adhere to simple taxonomies and preconceived notions of genre. As "rogues" within the canon, they challenge the established notions of what makes an Íslendingasaga.
Based on a critical appraisal of conceptualisations of canon and genre in saga literature, this book offers a new reading of the relationship between the individual, paranormal, and social dimensions that form the foundation of these sagas. It draws on a multidisciplinary approach, informed by perspectives as diverse as "possible worlds" theory, gender studies, and social history. The "post-classical" sagas are not only read anew and integrated into both their generic and socio-historical context; they are met on their own terms, allowing their fascinating narratives to speak for themselves.
Author / Editor information
Contributor: Rebecca Merkelbach
REBECCA MERKELBACH is assistant professor of Old Norse-Icelandic studies at the University of Tübingen, Germany.
Reviews
This book will be quite useful for those studying Iceland and its sagas, and offers those who research medieval literature more broadly a good example of how to engage with neglected stories.
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Frontmatter
i -
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Contents
v -
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Acknowledgements
vii -
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List of Abbreviations
ix -
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Note on Spelling and Translations
xi -
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1 Introducing the ‘Post-Classical’ Íslendingasögur
1 -
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2 The Protagonist
27 -
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3 The Paranormal
65 -
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4 Society
107 -
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5 Expanding the Sagaverse: Fictionality and Narrative World
149 -
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6 Alternate Histories of the Settlement
201 -
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Conclusion: Rogue Sagas
237 -
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Appendix: The ‘Post-Classical’ Corpus
243 -
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Bibliography
251 -
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Index
281
Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
June 5, 2024
eBook ISBN:
9781805433347
Original publisher:
D.S.Brewer
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook ISBN:
9781805433347
Keywords for this book
narratology; fictionality; story-worlds; heroism; revenants; berserkir; magic; trolls; prophecy; family; exile; honour; class; normativity; worldbuilding
Audience(s) for this book
For an expert adult audience, including professional development and academic research
