ABSTRACT
The most frequently used term to describe the peculiarity of saga style is ‘objectivity’. The formulas constitute a neglected part of saga style and of the unique character of Islendingasogur. The fact that the Islendingasogur contain formulas has often been mentioned in saga scholarship, and in overviews, formulas are always mentioned as a typical feature of saga style. The discussion of ‘realism’ in the sagas has been almost as confused as that of ‘objectivity’. The ‘realism’ of the Hildiglúmr episode points to the fact that it is problematic to define realism as the absence of supernatural motifs. Lonnroth’s example proves that such motifs can also be depicted with saga-typical realism. While a lot of research has been dedicated to discussing the origin of saga literature as a literary phenomenon, remarkably little has been devoted to the search for the roots of saga style or attempts to explain its peculiar features.
