read Icelandic sagas

Burnt Njal – headed for the discussion tonight – Yay me! (Saw a Monty Python parody of the saga – hysterical)

Found myself taking notes on this saga – rarely take notes as I read – it was necessary, really, to keep the characters straight. Hope I’m able to finish by Friday.

Big surprise, I’m sure. ;) But there was a very good class on Icelandic sagas that I took, which I remember fondly to this day - it was a good introduction to a different style of literature for me, and the stories are quite fascinating, especially in their ‘external’ style, where the protagonists are almost never seen from the inside, just by outside actions. Njal’s Saga is perhaps the most famous in the English speaking world, aside from the mythological cycles.

I’ve only completed the Volsung saga, but I’m working on Egil’s Saga and Burnt Njal. Currently reading Iceland’s Bell by Halldor Laxness, said to be written in saga style. Want a better sense of what that means.

Have finally finished Iceland’s Bell based on real characters and real events from the Sagas – consequently based on real historical events.