Unique oral tradition of Iceland's literature

by W.T.J.S. Kaviratne - Ambalangoda special cor.

Literature shapes the minds of humanity and it has an indelible impact on every nation of both the orient and the occident. Legends and folklore, epics and myths that had passed along for centuries through oral tradition are the fountains of the world's poetry which existed before writing began.

A comparative analysis of the origin of literature of all ancient civilisations reveals that oral tradition of folklore, legends, epics and myths has continued to survive and transmitted for generations until they were written down.

The themes of medieval Icelandic oral tradition of literature were in existence in Scandinavia long before Iceland was discovered by Viking settlers in 870-930 AD.

Eddas

Researchers on Norse mythology vary in their opinion on the etymology of the term "Edda." The Majority believe the term "Edda" to be means "Great Grandmother." while the others disagree with this belief and they argue "Edda" has been derived from a name of a place called "Oddi" in Iceland where Snorri Sturlusson the compiler of Prose Edda was brought up.

The Poetic Edda is also known by Elder Edda as "Saemunder Edda." Saemund the Wise was believed to have compiled "Codex Regius" which comprised Norse poems of the Poetic Edda.

The theory that Saemunder the Wise as the compiler of Poetic Edda or Codex Regius is rejected by modern scholars.

Icelandic Bishop Brynjolfur Sveinsson of Skalholt found Codex Regius (Royal Codex or Royal Book) in Southern Iceland in 1643 AD. On a request by King Fredrik iii of Denmark, Bishop Brynjolv Sveinsson sent the king the gift of Codex Regius and it was kept in Royal Library in Copenhagen and later it was sent back to Iceland and is now housed in the Arna Magnussonar Collection in Iceland.

Poetic Edda (Elder Edda) is an anthology of 34 Icelandic Poems interspersed with prose.

Codex Regius had preserved poems that narrated the Creation and Predicted the Destruction and Rebirth of the Old Norse Mythological World along with the stories of Norse deities, Supernatural beings and Legends on Norse Heroes and Heroines.

The language used in composing the Eddic poems is clear even though a metaphorical device known as 'Kenning' has been employed for special effect.

Kennings

Certain Kennings are very complex and without a thorough knowledge on Norse Mythology and the cultural and historical and regional background it is extremely difficult to understand the exact message conveyed by both Eddic and Skaldic poets.

Medieval Icelandic Poets may use several Kennings for the same object.

"Flame of the Sea Stead's Path" means Gold.

(Sea stead = ship / Path of the ship = the sea . Flame of the water or sea = gold.)

Havamal

Havamal is one of the poems found in Poetic Edda (Words of the High One) supposed to have been compiled in the 9th century.

The largest part of this lengthy poem deals with gnomic advice, etiquette, rules for social behaviour, how to maintain friendship, duties of a host and a guest, remedies for common ailments, drinking habits and how to adjust to community living.

Voluspa (Sibyl's Prophecy), Vaftrudnismal (The Lay of Illusion), Hymiskvadet (Hymer's Lay), Grimnismal (Grimner's Lay) are some of the poems in the Poetic Edda.

Snorri Strurluson was a literary giant who lived in Reykhold, Iceland during the Golden Era of Literature. He was highly respected as a poet, historian, statesman, saga-writer, and a saga-maker and the compiler of Icelandic masterpiece of literature known as Prose Edda or Snorri's Edda and Younger Edda.

Prose Edda is a prose narrative on stories woven around Norse Mythology. In addition, it has been identified as a manual on poetics.

A book on Poetic Language (Skaldskaparmal), A List of Verse Forms Hattaal) and famous History of Norwegian Kings (Heimskringla) were some of the works of Snorri Strurluson who played a vital role in the sphere of Icelandic literature.

Sagas

Eventhough he embraced Christianity he tried to preserve Norse Mythology and provide guidance on how to analyse kennings and grasp mythological allusions in Skaldic poetry.

The Sagas are stories based on old Scandinavian and Germanic history mostly on Viking expeditions written in Old Norse language mainly in Iceland.

The tales narrated in Sagas were mostly realistic feuds between the settlers of Iceland, conflicts among the farmers and chieftains and about genealogical and family history.

The era between 10th and early 11th century was known as Saga Age in Iceland.

Family Sagas and Sturlunga Sagas help to explore aspects of socio-economic conditions and social values that prevailed in Iceland. Some of the Sagas are based even on the accusations on witchcraft

Sagas also revealed day-to-day life situations of Icelandic people and the hardships they had to encounter in their farmsteads.

Vellum

Sagas were orally transmitted history of Iceland but later on the Sagas were written on Vellum made out of calfskin.

Sharpened quill feathers of swans and ravens and a kind of ink made out of bear-berry plant had been used to write down Sagas Egil's Saga.

Unparalleled metaphor and alliteration had been used by him in compiling Sagas.

Just to the south of Sogn in Norway, lived the peasant family of Kveld-Ulf (Wolf of the Evening). He had two sons Thorolf and Skalla- Grim (Grim-the Bald), but they were totally different.

Thorolf tried hard to become King Harald's man. but he was killed by Harald himself. His family had to flee with their goods and set sail for Iceland.

Skala-Grimm became an explorer of new lands.

At the age of seven he killed his playmate aged eleven. Egil's Saga is full of adventures.

Skaldic poetry

The narrator of Egil's Saga takes the listener or the reader to many lands of Scandinavia, to Norway, Sweden, Finland and all the other lands visited by the Vikings.

The chief character of the Saga, Egil had most perilous adventures In York. The account of Harold Fairhair's tyranny forced many Norsemen of good families in

The picture created by the narrator of Egil's Saga is realistic. Bard's Saga, Saga of Erik the Red, Grettir's Saga, Saga of Gunnar, Njal's Saga, Laxdaela Saga are some of the many Family Sagas of Iceland.

Skaldic poetry comprised elaborate Kennings and their origin could be traced to the early 9th century.

They are also known as Praise Poetry. Skaldic poetry were composed chiefly to praise an individual King his exploits and other prominent people of the pagan era in Iceland and other Scandinavian countries.

The Oral Tradition of Skaldic portrayed the heroic age of Vikings. When Christianity posed a challenge to pagan beliefs the oral tradition of Skaldic Poetry was threatened to disappear.

It was Snorri Strurluson who came to the rescue to preserve this genre of poetry by compiling Prose Edda as a manual of preserving and understanding them.

In comparison to mainland Scandinavia due to its distance and remote location complete conversion of Iceland took a longer period. Pagan belief systems of the medieval Icelandic people based on age old Norse mythology and long accumulated and inherited from generation to generation could not be easily uprooted.

Over the years Icelandic people had developed their skills in oral tradition of story telling which had paved the way for the compilation of Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Scaldic and Saga poetry universally recognised as some of the greatest work in literature.

Ting of a The Sagas, had been narrated in Iceland during the evening entertainment in farms and this was known as "Kvoldvaka".

The Evening entertainment in the Icelandic farms during the Winter began with the lighting of an oil lamp usually after sunset.

According to Eggert Olafsson and Bjarni Palsson the nead of the household, young boy or a girl or a guest reads or relates Sagas or metrical version of these and other tales.

The first settlers of Iceland were highly fascinated by its enchanting scenic beauty. For its early inhabitants it was a place of extremes. The sea round Iceland was stormy. Glittering fjords further enhanced its beauty.

The inland valleys were fertile and nearly ten percent of the land has been covered by the glaciers. Certain mountain ranges could be seen snow- capped throughout summer.

Volcanic eruptions took place nearly every five years. In the inclement and long dark nights of Winter the Icelanders became narrators of strange tales based on ghosts, elves, trolls, gods, goddesses and other creatures.