Cook, Robert. Journeys to Norway (and other foreign parts) in Njáls saga

• Author: Cook, Robert
• Title: Journeys to Norway (and other foreign parts) in Njáls saga
• Published in: Sagas and the Norwegian Experience: Preprints of the 10th International Saga Conference, Trondheim, 3. - 9. august 1997
• Editors: Hagland, J. R.
• Place, Publisher: Trondheim, NTNU
• Year: 1997
• Pages: 130-138
• E-text:
• Reference: Cook, Robert. "Journeys to Norway (and other foreign parts) in Njáls saga." Sagas and the Norwegian Experience: Preprints of the 10th International Saga Conference, Trondheim, 3. - 9. august 1997, pp. 130-138. Ed. J. R. Hagland. Trondheim: NTNU, 1997.

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Annotation

The author discusses different types of voyages that various characters in Njal's saga take, and how travel motifs concerning journeys abroad were crafted to fit the story and serve the narrative. There are a number of reasons to undertake journeys abroad which are discussed. The voyages include exploits of heroism, cowardice, eroticism, manipulation, and other themes that effect the arc of the story. There are similar voyages present in other sagas, such as Ólafr Höskuldsson's journeys to Norway and Ireland in Laxdæla saga, and the author argues a historical precedent to the inclusion of these journeys by explaining that Icelanders often traveled to work in Scandinavian courts as Skalds, among other ventures. Cook further explores various characters‘ interactions with Norwegian royalty and in part demonstrates how Icelanders are received and treated at Norwegian courts. Encounters as a whole end up mixed with positive and negative outcomes depending on the character undertaking the journey.

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• Written by: Dain Swenson
• Icelandic/English translation: