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LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students should be able to define what the saga genre is and what makes it distinct from other literary genres by comparing and contrasting the common tropes, character archetypes, and other matters.

Students should be able to list the key developments of the literary genre of the Íslendingasögur over time, from oral tradition to manuscript culture to cultural transmission beyond Iceland.

Students should be able to identify Árni Magnússon and Snorri Sturluson, as well as their importance to the literary culture of Iceland.

Students should be able to describe key plot elements of the course’s 3 sagas, The Story of the People of Eyri (Eyrbyggja saga), The Story of Burnt Njáll (Njáls saga) and The Story of Grettir the Strong (Grettis saga).

Students should be able to discuss depictions of old age/death in the saga Grettis saga and compare it to depictions of old age and death in other literature/media

Students should be able to:

  • Discuss the unique geological landscape of Iceland.
  • Identify major saga locations