Gripla - 01.01.2001, Blaðsíða 42

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GRIPLA
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SUMMARY
This article attempts to locate the Vinland sagas within the saga world of the Middle
Ages. Well-known Icelandic and foreign travel descriptions — such as the voyage of
St Brendan (Brandanus saga), Eiríks saga víðförla, Yngvars saga víöförla and
Duggals leiðsla — are compared with Eiríks saga rauða, and reasons are giving for in-
cluding that saga in the same genre. Eiríks saga must then be interpreted in the same
manner as medieval maps, in which the difference between the real and the imaginary
is not always discemible. It is shown how the religious theme of Paradise is skilfully
used in the account of Vinland, and how the names Markland and Helluland can be
seen as variations of well known descriptions in visionary literature of the dwelling
places of men who were regarded as not exceedingly good (summi boni).
Sverrir Tómasson
Stofnun Arna Magnússonar á Islandi
Arnagaröi viö Suðurgötu
101 Reykjavík
sverrirt@am.hi.is