I sometimes think that Victorian sensation fiction (etc The Woman In White, The Moonstone) and Islendingasogur have a few things in common. Many Islendingasogur are focused on the law and the way it works and the effects it has on those on both sides, which is a frequent theme in sensation fiction as well. Also, many of the incidents in the sagas would IMO not be out of place if they were in sensation or Gothic novels; the burning of Njal, the dream-women who appear to Gisli Sursson, the supernatural occurrences in *Eyrbyggja Saga* (eg Thorgunna's haunting)and conventions such the presence of blood feuds and passionate love affairs as well as women and sometimes men who step out of expected gender roles.
//In particular, Hallgerd, a villain in Njals saga, reminds me a bit of the title character in *Lady Audley's Secret* in that she is both beautiful and immoral and dangerous. In both stories an attractive appearance hides a bad character and there's an emphasis on blood and genetics surrounding the villainess. Am I alone or do other people see the similarities too? An I just seeing similarities where there aren't any?
I sometimes think that Victorian sensation fiction (etc The Woman In White, The Moonstone) and Islendingasogur have a few things in common. Many Islendingasogur are focused on the law and the way it works and the effects it has on those on both sides, which is a frequent theme in sensation fiction as well. Also, many of the incidents in the sagas would IMO not be out of place if they were in sensation or Gothic novels; the burning of Njal, the dream-women who appear to Gisli Sursson, the supernatural occurrences in *Eyrbyggja Saga* (eg Thorgunna's haunting)and conventions such the presence of blood feuds and passionate love affairs as well as women and sometimes men who step out of expected gender roles.
//In particular, Hallgerd, a villain in Njals saga, reminds me a bit of the title character in *Lady Audley's Secret* in that she is both beautiful and immoral and dangerous. In both stories an attractive appearance hides a bad character and there's an emphasis on blood and genetics surrounding the villainess. Am I alone or do other people see the similarities too? An I just seeing similarities where there aren't any?
Crossposted on reddit here
and on AH.com.
edited 28th Apr '14 5:11:53 AM by MorwenEdhelwen
The road goes ever on. -Tolkien