Marriage

A very important aspect of this book is the power that parents still have over their daughters, they decide who they marry to. “´If it’s on your mind´ she said´ you must go to my father´.” (Pg 53) This is said by Hoskuld Dala-Kollson to Gunnar who wants to marry her. Here we see the control that is still practiced then (in this saga) and that powerful men like Gunnar have an edge on women. “Favourably” (Pg 53) is the answer of Hoskuld´s parent. Here we see how the honor of Gunnar of being known as a warrior is great and lets him have an advantage on parents. They will want their daughters married to a hero like him.

Blood Has Been Spilled

This Saga is one that doesn’t leave the bloody part of lives outside. There are a lot of fights in which Gunnar participates. He does the impossible to kill his opponents. This shows his powerful roll in this story. He even kills a man who “has put a spell so that no weapon but his” (pg 49) could kill him. We then see how Gunnar doesn’t let this stop him and kills this man, “Gunnar struck at Hallgrims arm and the arm was crippled, but the sword did not bite. The halbalerd fell; Gunnar grabbed it and thrust it through Hallgrim.”(Pg 49) Why is the conquest against the Vikings being done? There is no explanation of this violence. Is there a good reason for this or is it just blood thirsty people who just want to carry deaths upon them? I must investigate this.

Literary Groups

Class work in Literary Groups Njal’s Saga

Blog Topics:

1. Vengeance
2. Fame and Glory
3. Friendship
4. Female Power
5. ViolenceExtremely

Interesting Lines:

1. “He was well off for property and handsome to look at, but there was one thing about him: no beard grew on him.” (20)
2. “It will be avenged against him, but the vengeance and the credit will not be ours. It’s likely, in fact, that he will turn too our kin for friendship.” (24)
3. “You have served other better than yourself today-by taking away their thirst.” (30)
4. “You will be tried much more, because many men will envy you.” (32)
5. “And you will often have to defend yourself.” (32)

Essential Questions:

1. During what time period did the events written occur?
2. To what kingdom did Iceland belong to at the time?
3. Why did Gunnar not follow Njal’s advice to not attend the Thing?
4. Why does the saga focus more in Gunnar that Njal at the start?
5. What is the roll of woman during this time in Iceland.

An Imperfect Heroe

At my start of Njal´s Saga I saw a very common thing that happens a lot in book. Njal is described very in detail and with boosting adjectives. “He was well off for property and hansom to look at,” (pg 35) Not only the description stops there but continues saying he is, “wise and prophetic”. He is like a hero, perfect to the eye of man, intelligent, hansom, and as if it wasn’t important he helps other people. He is as Hercules in a way. They both have in common that are almost perfect beings, well I say “almost” because they say that Njal has a defect that is that he doesn’t grow beard. Why is this a defect? He is hansom and intelligent, what else did they want from him? Was he also not tall enough or something! I think that if all we look at is his defect (because he only seems to have one) he is a perfect man. This case can also apply to heroes that have one defect, therefore making them not a perfect being. Everyone is imperfect in one way, so why actualy say that? We should be able to take it as something already done, everyone sees defects on people, so if we just focus on these then we won´t see the good parts.