Gripla - 01.01.1975, Page 175

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THE RISE OF LITERATURE IN 'TERRA NOVA*
lopment of literature in Iceland. Nevertheless I consider it impossible
that any single one of these factors could be regarded as the initial
impulse for the rise of literature in Iceland to such an extremely high
standard.
Iceland was a ‘terra nova’. This term I want to use in a more ex-
tensive meaning. Iceland was not only a ‘terra nova’ as a country
newly discovered, settled and colonized. ‘Terra nova’ in my meaning
also signifies a new beginning of a community, the creation of new
political, legal and social orders.
But if we try to compare the particular situation of Iceland and its
literature with some similar societies or Uteratures, we meet a lot of
difficulties. It seems impossible to find a country or a society with
conditions identical to the ones which characterised Iceland. The settle-
ment of a new country or a new landscape is not always combined
with the creation of new orders. Moreover, the beginning of quite
new political or legal orders, which sometimes lead to the creation of
a new state or a new nation, is not necessarily combined with the
settling of a new land.
I think it will suffice for our reflections to compare the Icelandic
situation with that of a few other societies or countries which are
‘terrae novae’ in only one of these respects, or to state how far Ice-
land seems to be incomparable at all.
The aim of such comparative reflections is to illuminate the rise of
literature in a country like Iceland. But what kind of material can we
compare? Probably it would not lead to any results if one were to try
to compare single works or artistic forms or genres of literature in
different societies. We have to start with the most characteristic pecu-
liarities of Old Icelandic literature. These characteristics, I think, can
be shown by disregarding all details and reducing the differences be-
tween Old Icelandic and Old Norwegian literature to the most striking
points. These could be the following items:
a) In Iceland probably old traditions were preserved better than in
Norway.
b) In Iceland such old traditions were not only preserved orally,
but were written on parchment. It can be taken as a rule that
the process of writing itself influenced the works being written.