Directions: Read the following excerpts of tales from the early part of the Middle Ages, then answer the questions that follow them.
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Egils Saga:
There was a man called Ulf, the son of Bjalfi and Hallbera, the daughter of Ulf the Dauntless. She was the sister of Hallborn Halftroll in Ramsta, the father of Ketil Hoeng. Ulf was such a big and strong man that he had no equals. When he was young he went on Viking raids. In partnership with him was Berle_Kari, a man of good birth, distinguished for strength and courage. He was a berserk. He and Ulf shared one purse and were close friends.[1]
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The Song of Roland:
Charles the king, our might emperor, has been in Spain for all of seven years,
Has won that haughty land down to the sea. There is no castle still opposing him,
Nor town or wall remaining to be crushed,
Except the mountain city Saragossa.
Marsilla holds it; he does not love God,
But serves Mohammed and invokes Apollo.
No matter what he does, his ruin will come.[2]
QUESTIONS:
1. What seems important to establish in the Viking saga? What can that tells us about their culture?
2. What qualities in a person does it seem that the Vikings would value? Why?
3. What seems important for the author of The Song of Roland to establish? What can it tell us about their culture?
4. What qualities in a person does it seem that the Franks would value? Why?
5. Are there any similarities between these two cultures? If so, what are they? What could account for them?
(books)
[1] Egils Saga. Christine Fell, trans, ed. London: Everymans Library, 1975, 1.
[2] The Song of Roland. Robert Harrison, trans. New York, Penguin Books, 1970, 51.
