Markelova Olga

The perception of Old Norse literature in modern Icelandic children’s literature

Abstract

In Icelandic children’s literature of the years 2000−2010, the texts that make use of the subjects of Old Norse literature are not very common, but their importance is undeniable. In modern culture of Iceland, the ancient literature has a high status of the “great cultural heritage” and is also extremely important in constructing the Icelandic national identity. Due to the fact that the Icelandic language has not changed considerably during the centuries, the ancient texts are read by Icelanders in the original language with comments, while younger generations may need some other ways to become familiar with the “classical” plots and characters. The modern Icelandic childern’s literature on Old Norse matters includes a great number of long and short prose texts but hardly any poems. There are mainly two genres: the mythological songs of Edda and the sagas of Icelanders (and there is also at least one example of using the kings’ sagas, namely the Saga of Ólafur Tryggvason). The texts are mainly addressed to children of the age of 9 to 13. Such children’s books have a double aim: a) the representation of the Old Norse universe itself, b) the representation of the recipient, who is supposed to be a child interested in culture and history of Iceland. Bringing the Old Norse subject to young readers can be achieved by various ways. It can be a simple retelling of a saga or a myth adapted to the perception of a modern reader. In such cases, many things concerning the realia and the worldview of the ancient age require explanation; the facts are usually never altered, even those which are not wholly in line with modern ethics. An ancient plot or person can be placed in the context of modern daily life, with e.g. Thor or Loki becoming schoolchildren. A sci-fi pattern can be employed, e.g. when a modern child finds his way into the Old Norse universum and the realm of gods. Alternativelly, a modern child can come in touch with some Old Norse realia in the modern world, such as archeological fi nds or ancient inscriptions. The high status of the literary heritage often brings about a distance between the text and its modern recipient, which may not always be desirable when the younger generation is concerned. The authors of modern Icelandic children’s books seek to reduce this distance. The contrast between the Old Norse and the modern culture, in particular the ethical, can be a special subject for discussion in such books because children’s literature is supposed to educate the readers not only about the past ages but fi rst and foremost about the world they live in.

Keywords

perception of Old Norse literature, children’s literature, Icelandic literature of 2000−2010, Norse mythology, sagas of Icelanders, interpretation, rewriting

References

1. Anna Dóra Antónsdóttir, Bardagi á Örlygsstöðum, Reykjavík, 2013.
2. Anna Heiða Pálsdóttir, “Hvað er með ásum? Hvað er með álfum? — Norræn goðafræði í íslenskum barnabókum”, in: Börn og menning, 15 (1), 2000, 19–26.
3. Anna Þórbjörg Ingólfsdóttir, “Barnabókaútgáfan 2004”, in: Tímarit Máls og Menningar. 2, 2005, 67–76.
4. Anna Þórbjörg Ingólfsdóttir, “Hávamál. Þórarinn Eldjárn endurorti og Kristín Ragna Gunnarsdóttir myndlýsti”, in: Börn og menning, 27 (1), 2012, 36–37.
5. Bjarki Bjarnason, Snorra-Edda á nútímaíslensku. Gylfaginning og Skáldskaparmál, Mosfellsbær, 2015.
6. Brynhildur Þórarinsdóttir, Njála, Reykjavík, 2002.
7. Brynhildur Þórarinsdóttir, “Af Artúri konungi, Gunnari á Hlíðarenda og Fróða Bagga. Fornsagnamatreiðsla fyrir börn” in: Börn og menning, 18 (2), 2003, 20–24.
8. Brynhildur Þórarinsdóttir, “‘Dóu afi nn og amman?’ Viðtökur grunnskólabarna við Njálu”, in: Skíma. Málgagn móðurmálskennara, 26 (2), 2003, 27–33.
9. Brynhildur Þórarinsdóttir, Egla, Reykjavík, 2004.
10. Brynhildur Þórarinsdóttir, Laxdæla, Reykjavík, 2006.
11. Brynhildur Þórarinsdóttir, Egils saga, Kópavogur, 2014.
12. Brynhildur Þórarinsdóttir, Brennu-Njáls saga — fyrri hluti. Hallgerðar saga og Gunnars, Kópavogur, 2015.
13. Dagný Kristjánsdóttir. “Fleira en augað sér... Fimm nýjar fantasíur handa börnum og unglingum”, in: Tímarit Máls og menningar, 4, 2004, 67–75.
14. Dagný Kristjánsdóttir, Bókabörn. Íslenskar barnabókmenntir verða til. Bókmennta — og listfræðistfnun, Reykjavík, 2015.
15. Driscoll M. J., “Þögnin mikla. Hugleiðingar um riddarasögur og stöðu þeirra í íslenskum bókmenntum”, in: Skáldskaparmál 1, Reykjavík, 1990, 157–168.
16. Guðni Jónsson, (ed.), Eddukvæði (Sæmundar — Edda), Fyrri hluti, Akureyri, 1980.
17. Elías Snæland Jónsson, Valkyrjan, Reykjavík, 2003.
18. Elías Snæland Jónsson, Víkingagullið, Reykjavík, 2000.
19. Friðrík Erlingsson, Þór. Í Heljargreipum, Reykjavík, 2008.
20. Friðrík Erlingsson, Þór. Leyndarmál guðanna, Reykjavík, 2010.
21. Iðunn Steinsdóttir, Óðinn og bræður hans. Heimur verður til, Reykjavík, 2006.
22. Iðunn Steinsdóttir, Lífi ð í Ásgarði. Gullnar töfl ur í grasi, Reykjavík, 2008.
23. Iðunn Steinsdóttir, Æsir á fl júgandi ferð. Hefnd Loka, Reykjavík, 2009.
24. Ingunn Ásdísardóttir, Örlög guðanna. Sögur úr norrænu goðafræði, Reykjavík, 2008.
25. Jón Stefán Kristjánsson, Elvar Logi Hannesson. “Gísli Súrsson”, in: Íslenskir einleikir. Reykjavík, 2006, 23–56.
26. Kristín Steinsdóttir, Hetjur, Reykjavík, 2009.
27. Margrét Tryggvadóttir. “Veröld barnabókanna sótt heim áný”, in: Tímarit Máls og menningar, 2, 2015, 4–14.
28. Stybe, Vibeke, Fra Askepot til Asterix: børnebogen i kulturhistorisk perspektiv, København, 1969.
29. Þórarinn Eldjárn, Hávamál, Reykjavík, 2011.
30. Þórarinn Eldjárn, Kvæðasafn, Reykjavík, 2008
31. Þórarinn Eldjárn, Völuspá, Reykjavík, 2005.

Information about the author

Markelova Olga

Academic Degree: Candidate of Sciences* in Philology;
Place of work: independent researcher;
ORCID: 0000-0003-3640-4886;
Email: tysdagur@mail.ru.

*According to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) 2011, the degree of Candidate of Sciences (Cand.Sc.) belongs to ISCED level 8 — "doctoral or equivalent", together with PhD, DPhil, D.Lit, D.Sc, LL.D, Doctorate or similar.