Old Norse prose literature about heroes, kings and family disputes.
Saga means 'that which is told' in Old Norse and refers to a broad group of prose works written in Iceland from the twelfth century onwards. They are divided into Íslendingasögur, konungasögur, fornaldarsögur and riddarasögur among others.
The sagas are unique in European medieval literature for their realistic prose, psychological characterisation and historical grounding. They preserve memories of the Viking Age and older mythic traditions.
Attestations
- Vésteinn Ólason, Dialogues with the Viking Age (1998)
- Overview of saga literature's forms and functions.