Icelandic stories
Take any guided tour here in Iceland, and your guide will regale you with old Icelandic stories. There is a long history of story-telling here, the most famous examples are the sagas. I like to think of these guys as modern day minstrels, keeping the old traditions alive. Here's one I was told that sticks in my head. Can't think why.
Once there was an old farmer with a beautiful daughter. One day he was visited by two foreign travellers who fell in love with his daughter. They told him they wanted to marry her (both of them apparently. Not quite sure how that would work!) He was unhappy because he didn't want to lose his daughter, so he visited the wise man for advice. I have an idea, said the wise man. Tell the visitors they can marry your daughter if they manage to ... (fill in impossible task of your choice here). So the farmer goes back and tells the young guys this. But they manage to complete the impossible task. Upset, the farmer goes back to the wise man. What should I do? He said. I've promised these guys my daughter's hand. I have another idea, says the wise man. Take a really big axe, creep into their room in the middle of the night, and chop their heads off. So he did. The end.
I think this is the Icelandic version of a happy ending.
Once there was an old farmer with a beautiful daughter. One day he was visited by two foreign travellers who fell in love with his daughter. They told him they wanted to marry her (both of them apparently. Not quite sure how that would work!) He was unhappy because he didn't want to lose his daughter, so he visited the wise man for advice. I have an idea, said the wise man. Tell the visitors they can marry your daughter if they manage to ... (fill in impossible task of your choice here). So the farmer goes back and tells the young guys this. But they manage to complete the impossible task. Upset, the farmer goes back to the wise man. What should I do? He said. I've promised these guys my daughter's hand. I have another idea, says the wise man. Take a really big axe, creep into their room in the middle of the night, and chop their heads off. So he did. The end.
I think this is the Icelandic version of a happy ending.
posted by jess at 4:38 PM
1 Comments:
That's really interesting - did you go to Iceland? I am writing a story, which may turn into a novel, about Iceland - do you know of any contemporary stories or articles which would give me a feel for modern life there? I can't afford to go at the moment
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