Exempla in an old norse historiographic mold

Abstract

Although exempla make only a sporadic appearance in indigenous Old Norse literature, their structure and narrative content have been adapted to native saga tradition. The aim of this study is to illustrate the nature and function of the exemplum in a narrative continuum. Four experiential exempla are discussed: Snorri's Áki tale, Auðunar þáttr, Ketill porsteinsson's reflection on his life in þorgils saga ok Hafliða and Sighvatr Sturluson's cautionary jest directed at his son, Sturla, in Íslendinga saga. The first two are exemplars of ‘historical folklore’ or historified folklore. The last two represent biographical/historical accounts in, respectively, a contemporary saga and a chronicle noted for its seriousness and sobriety. All four exempla evince an avid interest in historiography and in the interrelationship between character and fate. Their functions are predictive and moral. The Áki tale has only a predictive function. The others, however, have at their core a moral concern that transcends the lives of the protagonists. While moral decisions effect personal success or failure, their greater significance lies in their influence on the health and course of public life.