| The Saint and the Saga Hero: Hagiography and Early Icelandic Literature Contributor(s): Grųnlie, Siān E. (Author) |
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ISBN: 1843844818 ISBN-13: 9781843844815 Publisher: Boydell & Brewer OUR PRICE: $128.25 Product Type: Hardcover Published: November 2017 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Literary Criticism | Medieval - Literary Criticism | European - Scandinavian - Literary Criticism | European - German |
| Dewey: 839.630 |
| LCCN: 2018286304 |
| Series: Studies in Old Norse Literature |
| Physical Information: 1.1" H x 6.2" W x 9.4" (1.70 lbs) 318 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - Medieval (500-1453) - Cultural Region - Scandinavian |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: The relationship between that most popular of medieval genres, the saint's life, and the sagas of the Icelanders is investigated here. Although saga heroes are rarely saints themselves - indeed rather the reverse - they interact with saints in a variety of ways: as ancestors or friends of saints, as noble heathens or converts to Christianity, as innocent victims of violent death, or even as anti-saints, interrogating aspects of saintly ideology. Via detailed readings of a range of the sagas, this book explores how saints' lives contributed to the widening of medieval horizons, allowing the saga authors to develop multiple perspectives (moral, eschatological, psychological) on traditional feud narratives and family dramas. The saint's life introduced new ideals to the saga world, such as suffering, patience and feminine nurture, and provided, through dreams, visions and signs, ways of representing the interior life and of engaging with questions of merit and reward. In dialogue with the ideology of the saint, the saga hero develops into a complex and multi-faceted figure. Siān Gr nlie is Associate Professor and Kate Elmore Fellow in English Language and Literature at St Anne's College, Oxford. |
Contributor Bio(s): Gronlie, Sian E.: - Jesus College Oxford (undergrad), Somerville College Oxford (grad) Associate Professor and Kate Elmore Fellow in English Language and Literature, St Anne's College Oxford |
