Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Of Sagas and Not-Sagas


saga. sa·ga – /ˈsɑgə/ [sah-guh]

noun. a medieval Icelandic or Norse prose narrative of achievements and events in the history of a personage, family, et cetera.

e.g. Saga:
A man named Thorarin lived in Langadal. He held a godord, but was a man of no influence. His son Audgisl was a man quick to act. Thorgils Holluson had dispossessed them of their godord and they considered this a grievous insult. Audgisl approached Snorri, told him of the ill-treatment which they had suffered and asked for his support. From: The Saga of the People of Laxardal

e.g. Not-Saga:
Edward helped me into his car, being very careful of the wisps of silk and chiffon, the flowers he'd just pinned into my elaborately styled curls, and my bulky walking cast. He ignored the angry set of my mouth.

When he had me settled, he got in the driver's seat and headed back out the long, narrow drive. From Twilight "The Twilight Saga" by Stephenie Meyer

Also not a saga:

Monty Python - Njorl's Saga

2 comments:

  1. Thank you. This needed to be said!

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  2. I'm glad you agree. Sometimes I think I go overboard in trying to use precisely the proper word. Sure we can use them loosely sometimes, but loosely is just a stone's throw away from wrong. In this case, "saga" is used simply to mean "long" and because to some I suppose it has a romantic connotation. Now "romantic". . .

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