Lönnroth, Lars. Structural divisions in the Njála manuscripts

• Author: Lönnroth, Lars
• Title: Structural divisions in the Njála manuscripts
• Published in: Arkiv för nordisk filologie 90
• Year: 1975
• Pages: 49-79
• E-text: journals.lub.lu.se
• Reference: Lars Lönnroth. "Structural Divisions in the Njála Manuscripts." Arkiv för nordisk filologie 90 (1975): 49-79.

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Annotation

The usage of uppercase capital letters, rubrics and initials to mark chapter structures in the Njáls saga differs significantly from case to case in the manuscript groups X, Y and Z. Parallels can be drawn particularly between the large initials that separate three important parts of Njáls saga: the beginning of the saga; the introduction of Gunnarr; and the beginning of Njáll's story. However, conclusions that the form of initials represents the importance of the structural divisions can not be drawn. The structural differences concerning the usage and position of divisions occur from mistakes, preferences and diverse motivations or the authors such as creation of tension or rating of sections rather than to provide a symmetrical narrative structure. Lönnroth uses as the central example of the choice of chapter divisions Gunnarr's final fight and death (Njáls saga, chapter 76/77) which spans two chapters.

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• Written by: Kathrin Lisa van der Linde
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