Nine saga studies : the critical interpretation of the Icelandic sagas

This is a collection of papers originally published in various journals in the United States, the United Kingdom and Sweden in 2005–11. No attempt has been made to impose an absolute uniformity on these reprinted articles. Thus, forms of citation, for example, may vary among them. Typographical errors have been silently corrected and bibliographical references updated when necessary. The orthography of the primary sources has not been harmonised but is, in each case, logical and should thus not be upsetting even to the educated reader. No attempt has been made to harmonise American and English spelling. Preface 9 Introduction: Saga Criticism 11 The Specter of Old Age: Nasty Old Men in the Sagas of Icelanders 47 Two Wise Women and their Young Apprentice: A Miscarried Magic Class 79 The Trollish Acts of Þorgrímr the Witch: The Meanings of 'Troll' and 'Ergi' in Medieval Iceland 93 The Fearless Vampire Killers: A Note about the Icelandic 'Draugr' and Demonic Contamination in 'Grettis Saga' 125 Beast and Man: Realism and the Occult in 'Egils saga' 139 'Egils saga' and Empathy: Emotions and Moral Issues in a Dysfunctional Saga Family 155 Laxdoela Dreaming: A Saga Heroine Invents Her Own Life 173 The Impetuousness of Þráinn Sigfússon: Leadership, Virtue and Villainy in 'Njáls saga' 191 Masculinity and Politics in 'Njáls Saga' 207 Acknowledgements 239 Index 241