Essay Questions

What is of utmost significance in this book?

The author postulates that ancient Norway required one to have wisdom, integrity, and diligence to survive. The current Norwegian society is characterized by a concurring spirit that is rooted in its history. Therefore, integrity is of utmost significance in this book because through wisdom and honor, Norway's people can stand their ground and ensure that they demand the respect they deserve. In recent years, Norway was faced with ethnic and cross-border conflicts, but its leaders and people fought for the good of the country but not tribes. A good illustration is Einarr's story in which he used wisdom before launching an invasion.

What is the history of Norway according to 'The Orkneyinga Saga'?

The book endows Norway with legendary true-to-life rudiments, which explains the foundation and culture of the country. The mythical stories provide the real history of Norway. For instance, Nor is the grandson Snaer, who is tasked with taking charge of Norway in historical times. The country is named after Nor, who becomes its ultimate ruler in ancient times. The book further narrates the mythical wars between Norway and its neighboring countries, such as Denmark. The royal disagreements between St Magnus and his competitor Earl are also explained in 'The Orkneyinga Saga.'

What is the symbolic meaning of the characters Snaer, Logi, Kari, and Frosti in 'The Orkneyinga Saga'?

The first four characters respectively embody ice, flare, storm, and hoarfrost. The antiquity of Norway and Sweden are based on these four characters. For instance, Norway is named after Nor, the grandson of Snaer. The reader realizes that the generations of these four characters ruled Sweden and Norway for many years. Besides this being a mythical story of the natural elements, its contents closely relate to modern Norway and Sweden. For instance, the geographical maps show that Norway and Sweden are positioned in locations characterized by snow, frost, storm, and flare.