Gripla


Gripla - 20.12.2008, Page 81

Gripla - 20.12.2008, Page 81
79 Þorsteinn is characterised as “a poor and swift” man — fielitill og fraligr (Flat III, 431), and that none of his relatives is named in the þáttr). Such a hero successfully gets through all the trials he has to undergo, overcomes a mighty opponent and finally wins and enhances his social status. But in other respects Íslendinga þættir can actually be shown to contrast with folktales. The heroes of such stories succeed primarily owing to their personal abilities and efforts, and not relying on supernatural assistants (some of them receive a powerful backing, but mostly in addition to their own endeavours). Besides, protagonists of útanferðar þættir never aim at anything utterly unrealisable, pursuing which would have exceeded the limits of human power and experience. Furthermore, all the action in these stories takes place in real historical time and space, unlike the normally undefined setting of the action in folktales, and all the events depicted in the þættir are presented in such a way that they enjoy the confidence of the audience. Like the sagas of Icelanders Íslendinga þættir are narrated in the realistic mode (more precisely, that of “archaic realism” as the saga style was defined by M. I. Steblin-Kamenskij)1 and their medieval audience considered these stories trustworthy. Þorsteins þáttr forvitna apparently stands out against the background of other narratives of this type. The story is supposed to be an exemplum, intended to illustrate how curiosity, which was regarded as a reprehensi- ble quality, leads to serious trouble (ÍF XIII, CCII).2 But the account of Þorsteinn’s adventure shows even more resemblance to a magic folktale, with which it shares both the general narrative pattern and a number of notable features that are generally alien to tales of Icelanders. Indeed, in no other Íslendinga þáttr does an ‘expiatory’ mission of a hero take the form of a typical fabulous motif, namely an assignment to fulfil an impracticable task. When king Haraldr sent Þorsteinn away for the shoots of a marvel- lous tree, contrary to the usual habits of a Norse ruler, he gave him no ‘address’ of a wonderful golden grove. And what is more, he altogether refused to explain to the Icelander where he should direct his steps. The parting words Þorsteinn heard from the king were hardly encouraging: 1 See, e.g., his essay Ot sagi k romanu [From Saga to Romance] (Steblin-Kamenskij 1984, 199). 2 Cf. in The King’s Mirror: “Enga luti skalltþu þa forvitna við hofðingia þinn er þu ser at hann vil at lœyniliger se <...>” (KS 57) [“You should never be curious about anything you see that your lord wishes to keep in secrecy”]. THE FANTASTIC IN Í SLENDINGA ÞÆTTIR
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