Stories set forth with fair words : the evolution of medieval romance in Iceland / Marianne E. Kalinke.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kalinke, Marianne E., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Romances, Old Norse--History and criticism.

Romances, Old Norse.

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

x, 191 pages ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Cardiff : University of Wales Press, [2017]

Summary:

This book is an investigation of the foundation and evolution of romance in Iceland. The narrative type arose from the introduction of French narratives into the alien literary environment of Iceland and the acculturation of the import to indigenous literary traditions. This study focuses on the oldest Icelandic copies of three chansons de geste and four of the earliest indigenous romances, both types transmitted in an Icelandic codex from around 1300. The impact of the translated epic poems on the origin and development of the Icelandic romances was considerable, yet they have been largely neglected by scholars in favour of the courtly romances. This study attests to the role played by the epic poems in the composition of romance in Iceland, which introduced the motifs of the aggressive female wooer and of Christian-heathen conflict. Book jacket.

Contents:

Translation in Norway 1

Tinkering with the Translations 19

Chansons de geste in Iceland 43

Stories Set Forth with Fair Words 63

Icelandic Innovations 92

The Beginnings of Icelandic Romance 114

Icelandic Romance as Critique and Sequel 142.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 180-185) and index.

ISBN:

1786830671

9781786830678

OCLC:

987989796