Andersson, Theodore M.. The Icelandic Family Saga

• Author: Andersson, Theodore M.
• Title: The Icelandic Family Saga. An Analytic Reading
• Place, Publisher: Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press
• Year: 1967
• E-text:
• Reference: Andersson, Theodore M. The Icelandic Family Saga. An Analytic Reading. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1967.

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• Key words: literary elements, structure, bókmenntaleg einkenni, bygging

Annotation

Andersson’s tripartite (synopsis–outline–comment) analysis of 24 Icelandic Family Sagas, the formal, theoretical function of which seeks ‘to convey as clearly as possible the content of the sagas’ (p. 96). In relation to Egils saga, Andersson examines the compositional structure of the saga’s narrative, proposing two event-chronologies that separate and bridge its two major conflict narratives (King Harald Fairhair – Thorolf Kveld-Ulfsson, Egil – Erik Bloodaxe); each of which, by and large, adhere structurally to the following six-part schema: introduction, conflict, climax, revenge, reconciliation and aftermath. On the basis of this model, Andersson claims, "Egils saga is perfectly clear in its composition" (p. 109).

Lýsing

Andersson greinir 24 Íslendingasögur í þremur þrepum (efniságrip–grind–skýringar) í þeim tilgangi að 'koma inntaki þeirra til skila á eins greinargóðan hátt og mögulegt er' (bls. 96). Í tilviki Egils sögu rýnir Andersson í byggingu frásagnarinnar og sér tvær atburðakeðjur sem greina að og tengja átakasögurnar tvær sem verkið hnitast um (Haraldur hárfagri – Þórólfur Kveldúlfsson, Egill – Eiríkur blóðöx); hvor um sig byggist, í stórum dráttum, upp á sex liðum: kynningu, átökum, hápunkti, hefndum, sáttum, eftirmála. Á grundvelli þessa módels ályktar Andersson að "Egils saga [sé] mjög skýr í byggingu" (s. 109).

References

Chapter 54: féll hann þar við skóginn: "Egils saga is perfectly clear in its composition". The only innovation ... is a departure from the one-climax principle in favor of a dual structure with two climaxes, Thórólfr’s death and Egill’s break with Erik" (p. 109).

Links

• Written by: Martin McNally
• Icelandic translation: Svanhildur Óskarsdóttir