View source for Slusher, Jeffrey L. Runic Wisdom in "Njal's Saga."

* '''Author''': Slusher, Jeffrey L.
* '''Title''': Runic Wisdom in "Njal's Saga and Nordic Mythology: Roots of an Oral Legal Tradition in Northern Europe."
* '''Published in''': ''Cardozo Studies in Law and Literature'' 3, 1
* '''Year''': 1991
* '''Pages''': 21-39
* '''E-text''': [http://www.jstor.org/stable/743500 JSTOR]
* '''Reference''': Slusher, Jeffrey L. "Runic Wisdom in "Njal's Saga." ''Cardozo Studies in Law and Literature'' 3, 1 (1991): 21-39.
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* '''Key words''': 

==Annotation== 
This work describes Njáll as a lawyer and the legal system he worked within. Slusher
discusses the importance of the spoken word in legal disputes in ''Njáls saga'' and in the legal
tradition of Northern Europe. He compares the magic combination of runes to legal formulas and
he likens characters from ''Njáls saga'' with gods from Nordic Mythology, e.g. he compares
Gunnar with Þórr and Njáll with Óðinn. This article illustrates how the decline in oral tradition in
law led to a decrease in respect for the law and its practitioners. Slusher argues that as oral
tradition faded and written law became more prominent, the law became more prescriptive and
was not as procedural as well as less dependent on the performance of the litigants before the
court. He goes on to discuss how law became increasingly esoteric to the layman. He concedes
our modern society is too complex for a law speaker to mediate, but he does point out that oral
tradition is still present in modern legal systems e.g. the testimony of a witness and oral oaths.
He concludes rediscovering oral tradition in law may help us build law both professional and
layman can respect.

==Lýsing==
Texta vantar
==See also==

==References==
[[Njála,_142|Chapter 142]]: '''þetta voru lög''': "The "secret" knowledge of Njal and other "lawyers" in Njal's Saga, often expressed in terms of legal formulas similar to mythological runic incantations, solves many of the legal disputes in the saga. Indeed, recitation of a formula is involved in nearly every legal claim in the saga. At the trial of the Burners, the Law-Speaker was surprised that Thorhall knew the "secret rule" that temporarily saved Kari's claim. Even if this episode is not legally accurate, it does recall similar mythological episodes." (p. 28)

==Links==

* ''Written by:'' Jesse Barber
* ''Icelandic/English translation:'' 

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