View source for Baldur Hafstað. Egils saga, Njáls saga, and the Shadow of Landnáma

* '''Author''': Baldur Hafstað
* '''Title''': Egils saga, Njáls saga, and the Shadow of Landnáma.
* '''Published in''': ''Sagnaheimur: Studies in Honour of Hermann Pálsson''
* '''Editors''': Ásdís Egilsdóttir, Rudolf Simek.
* '''Place, Publisher''': Wien: Fassbinder
* '''Year''': 2001
* '''Pages''': 21-37
* '''E-text''': 
* '''Reference''': Baldur Hafstað. "Egils saga, Njáls saga, and the Shadow of Landnáma." ''Sagnaheimur: Studies in Honour of Hermann Pálsson'', pp. 21-37. Eds. Ásdís Egilsdóttir, Rudolf Simek. Wien: Fassbinder, 2001.
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* '''Key words''': textual relations, intertextuality, literary elements (rittengsl, textatengsl, bókmenntaleg einkenni)


==Annotation== 
Baldur Hafstað argues that hidden influences of the ''Landnámabók'' can be found in ''Egils saga'' and ''Njáls saga'', and point out the similar use both sagas make of genealogies, and first settlers’ names, to anchor their characters in broader history. Baldur interprets the indirect influence of ''Landnáma'' on ''Egils saga'' as a deliberate attempt to connect Egill’s descendants, the Mýramenn, with Ingólfur Arnarson and other illustrious figures from ''Landnáma'' by means of parallels and analogies. Regarding ''Njáls saga'', he argues that the narrative relies on the same mechanisms, and that ''Egils saga'' was probably used as a model. However, the Norwegian stage present in ''Egla'' is replaced by a more Icelandic focus, as ''Njála'' emphasises Christianisation and other changes in Icelandic society (e.g. the establishment of ''fimmtardómur'').

==Lýsing==

Baldur Hafstað heldur því fram að hægt sé að finna undirliggjandi áhrif frá ''Landnámabók'' bæði í ''Egils sögu'' og ''Njáls sögu''. Hann bendir á að í báðum sögum eru ættir persóna raknar aftur til landnámsmanna til þess að staðsetja þær betur innan sagnfræðinnar. Baldur heldur því fram að undirliggjandi áhrif ''Landnámu'' á ''Egils sögu'' séu vísvitandi tilraun til að rekja ættir Egils og Mýramanna beint til Ingólfs Arnarsonar og annarra landnámsmanna. Baldur segir að frásögn ''Njálu'' styðjist að mörgu leyti við samskonar gangverk og ''Egils saga'', enn fremur telur hann líklegt að ''Egla'' hafi verið notuð sem fyrir fyrirmynd af ''Njálu''. Hins vegar sé hinu norska sögusviði skipt út fyrir íslenskt sögusvið, þar sem athyglinni er beint að kristnitökunni og öðrum breytingum sem verða á íslensku samfélagi t.d. stofnun fimmtardóms.

==See also==


==References==
===Egils saga===
[[Egla,_88|Chapter 88]]:  “Hidden silver of gold is a well-known motif, Atlakviða being another example. But this version – hiding your silver with the help of slaves who are then killed – appears only in these two sources in Old Icelandic literature [Egils saga and the Landnámabók account of Ketilbjörn gamli]. This reinforces the view that there are direct connections between the two works” (p. 28).

===Njáls saga===
[[Njála,_097|Chapter 97]]: '''Höskuldur Hvítanesgoði''': "The author of ''Njála'' 's innovative approach to ''Landnáma'' is revealed in several ways. With his  knowledge of ''Landnáma'' and of genealogy, he appears to take names  from the first generations of the settlement age, giving them to „invented“ people from the families concerned. Höskuldur Hvítanessgoði is a good example  of this practice. He is mentioned nowhere except in ''Njála''."  (p. 33).

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==Links==

* ''Written by:'' Katelin Parsons/ Barbora Davídková
* ''Icelandic translation:'' Jón Karl Helgason/ Andri M. Kristjánsson

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