Miller, William Ian. Preparation for the Next Althing: Chapters 132–7
- Author: Miller, William Ian
- Title: Preparation for the Next Althing: Chapters 132–7
- Published in: Why Is Your Axe Bloody?: A Reading of Njáls Saga
- Place, Publisher: New York: Oxford University Press
- Year: 2014
- Pages: 248-58
- E-text:
- Reference: Miller, William Ian. Why Is Your Axe Bloody?: A Reading of Njáls Saga. New York: Oxford University Press, 2014.
- Key words:
Annotation
The chapter begins with a look at Gizurr hvíti Teitsson and his apparent side-switching, first as attacker of Gunnarr, and then as leader of the anti-burner faction, and shows that this is not as contradictory as it might initially seem. Miller then turns to looking at the politics and rituals behind Flosi and the anti-burners’ support mustering, and at East and South Quarter political and power dynamics. The chapter then concludes with a brief analysis of Flosi and the other burners‘ visit to Ásgrimr.
Lýsing
Kaflinn hefst á því að Miller fjallar um Gissur hvíta og segir að greinileg sveiflun hans milli stríðandi fylkinga, fyrst sem árásarmaður Gunnars og síðan sem andvígismaður brennunnar að Bergþórshvoli, sé ekki í jafnmikilli mótsögn og virtist í fyrstu. Miller beinir athyglinni síðan að pólitíkinni og helgisiðunum á bak við liðsöfnuð Flosa og brennumanna, enn fremur fjallar hann um valdatafl og pólitík í suður og vestur hlutum landsins. Kaflinn endar á stuttri greiningu á heimsókn Flosa og annarra brennumanna til Ásgríms.
See also
- Miller, William Ian. Why is Your Axe Bloody?
- Miller, William Ian. Njála’s Unity Problem and the Very Beginning: Chapter 1
- Miller, William Ian. Marriage Formation and Dissolution: Chapters 2–34
- Miller, William Ian. Making a Scene: Chapters 34–5, 48
- Miller, William Ian. Looking Forward: Njal’s Prescience: Chapters 22–3
- Miller, William Ian. Bergthora vs. Hallgerd, Part I. The Theory: Chapters 35–45
- Miller, William Ian. Bergthora vs. Hallgerd, Part II: Some Facts
- Miller, William Ian. Otkel vs. Gunnar: Chapters 46–56
- Miller, William Ian. Gunnar vs. the Thrihyrning People: Chapters 57–66
- Miller, William Ian. The Two Thorgeirs and Death of Gunnar: Chapters 67–77
- Miller, William Ian. Revenge for Gunnar: Chapters 77–81
- Miller, William Ian. The Atlantic Interlude and Hrapp: Chapters 82–9
- Miller, William Ian. Setting up Thrain: Chapters 90–2
- Miller, William Ian. A Tale of Two Hoskulds: Chapters 93–9
- Miller, William Ian. Conversion and the Genius of the Law: Chapters 100–6
- Miller, William Ian. Valgard ‘the Wise’ and Hoskuld’s Blood: Chapters 107–16
- Miller, William Ian. Skarphedin Ascendans, Flosi’s Ninth Nights: Chapters 117–23
- Miller, William Ian. The Burning: Chapters 124–32
- Miller, William Ian. The Trial of Flosi and the Battle: Chapters 135, 141–5
- Miller, William Ian. Kari and Friends: Chapters 145–55
- Miller, William Ian. How Not to End a Saga, Unless...: Chapters 146–59
- Miller, William Ian. A Conclusion: Justice and Exits
References
Chapter 132: komið Gissuri í málið: "Gizur's trajectory is one of several that reveal the permeability and fluidity of faction in the Icelandic blood-feud. He was Gunnar's executioner and now succeeds to the leadership of the pro-Njal faction, Gunnar's avengers." (p. 248).
Chapter 134: að þú hefir kvonríki: "Of the seven people he (Flosi) then visits, only Sorli Brodd-Helgason refuses, … Flosi does not accept the refusal graciously … Ritualized humility is meant to get yeses; when it fails of its purpose the humility gives way to anger and cursing, as many a rejecter of a panhandler has experienced." (p. 251).
Chapter 136: þessir menn fara með hlátri: "Not laughing when the vengeance obligation hangs over you is a saga trope, but probably mirrors a ritualized propriety, indicating that the unfulfilled obligation is still in the mind of the avenger, also serving as a kind of mourning 'dress'." (p. 257).
Links
- Written by: Yoav Tirosh
- Icelandic translation: Andri M. Kristjánsson
