2007-10-09 14:38:02 · 4 answers · asked by Shy Lil Devil 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Saga: A Scandinavian legend, or heroic or mythic tradition, among the Norsemen and kindred people; a northern European popular historical or religious tale of olden time.
And then the blue-eyed Norseman told A saga of the days of old. Longfellow.
Definition by Webster 1913
In Norse mythology, Saga is the daughter of Odin. In some accounts, she is considered as just an aspect of Frigg, the wife of Odin.
Saga is the all-knowing goddess, seeing all things that pass and have passed. As such, she is often referred to as the goddess of history, as well as the goddess of poetry. Her name means "omniscience" or "seeress", and this name has come to be applied to those greatest of epic tales. Saga lives at Sinking Beach, in her hall Sokkuabekk, where every day she drinks of golden cups with her father Odin.
2007-10-09 14:50:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Saga: In its strictest sense, applied to Icelandic or other Scandinavian STORIES of the medieval period recording the legendary and historical accounts of heroic adventure, especially of members of certain important families. The earlier Icelandic sagas, like the early Irish EPICS and ROMANCES, were in PROSE. There were also "mythological" sagas. The term came to be used for a historical LEGEND developed by ORAL TRANSMISSION till it was popularly accepted as true-a FORM lying between authentic history and intentional FICTION. The meaning is not confined to Scandinavian pieces, and the commonest meaning now for SAGA is a NARRATIVE having the characteristics of the Icelandic sagas; hence any traditional TALE of heroic achievement or extraordinary or marvelous adventure. The best example of the true saga is that of Grettir the Strong, suggestive of the story of Beowulf. Others are included in the famous Heimskringla, from which Longfellow drew material for his Saga of King Olaf. John Galsworthy has used the term in the title of his story of the Forsytes, a series of NOVELS called The Forsyte Saga.
[References: Theodore M. Andersson, The Icelandic Family Saga (1967); Carol J. Clover, The Medieval Saga (1982); W. A. Craigie, The Icelandic Sagas (1913); A 1. SteblinKamenskij, The Saga Mind (tr. 1973)]
2007-10-09 22:13:10 · answer #2 · answered by Terry 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A myth is usually mainly about Gods and Goddesses.
Whereas a saga or legend is about mortal heroes.
2007-10-10 00:16:50 · answer #3 · answered by Michael Faust 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a story - usually long and a little drawn out.
2007-10-09 21:49:06 · answer #4 · answered by Zimmia 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋