Essay Questions

Why there were no prisons in Iceland?

The action in the novel is set in the beginning of the 19th century, a time when there were no prisons in Iceland. In fact, the oldest prison in Iceland was built in 1974, years after the action of the novel takes place. The reason why Iceland had no prisons was because, for a long time, Iceland was a Denmark dependency and thus when criminals were caught or when criminal acts took place, the people to be put on trial were sent to Denmark. The case presented here is an anomaly and the reason why the governing powers in Iceland decided to keep the criminal was because they wanted to set an example for the rest of the population.

What is skyr?

Skyr is the name given to a traditional Icelandic dairy product. It is considered by many as being yogurt but traditionally, it is seen as being cheese. Skyr was used almost in all Nordic countries but in time many countries stopped using it. The only place where Skyr remained popular is in Iceland where it continues to be produced and eaten to this day.

Who were the people who were executed in Iceland?

The novel Burial Rites tells the story of the last two people to be executed in Iceland, Agnes Magnúsdóttir and Friðrik Sigurðsson. The two were convicted of murder after they killed two men, Agnes’s former employer and another man known for his bad behavior. The two were executed in 1930 and their execution is considered an anomaly because at that time, serious crimes and criminals were judged in Denmark. However, the two were executed in Iceland.