Saga Of The Volsungs: Why Were The Vikings Such A Threat?

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Saga of the Volsungs: Why were the Vikings such a threat?

Saga of the Volsungs gives an in depth look at the Viking culture, how they interact with each other, and the world around them. The epic stories in this text provides a glance at what they value, what valor meant to them, and what family means in their society. The Nordic people became a horrific reality to the European Christian society that was still developing in the early Middle Ages. This text, Saga of the Volsungs, reveals many things about Viking culture, but more importantly, it reveals why and how the Vikings had such a disastrous effect on Europe. After evaluating early Nordic culture, it can be concluded that the Vikings had a deep-set belief in mythology, the supernatural, …show more content…

Research and archeological evidence have revealed the Vikings were a race of tall, blonde, imposing figures that lived predominantly in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway before the Middle Ages. The Vikings were a race of war mongering peoples. They conquered and then conquered each other to gain more victory and prowess in battle. On page forty, we can find King Volsung himself offering: “I have fought a hundred times… it will not be reported that I either fled or asked for peace.” (Saga, 40.) Their society was based in monarchs and Vikings lived in kingdoms rules over by many different kings, all fighting for dominance and resources. As these resources depleted over the years, along with the available land, the Vikings pushed each other south and out of the Nordic …show more content…

Once of the important aspects of family to review, is kindship. Kinship to the Vikings was a loyalty forged bond created either by blood relation, or by marriage. Families fought valiantly for each other in Nordic culture, and Vengeance, which will be discussed later, will take a pivotal role in that familial loyalty. On page thirty-nine, Signy is shown arguing with her father, against her marriage to Siggeir: “I do not wish to go away with Siggeir, nor do my thoughts laugh with him…This union will bring us much misery.” (Saga, 39) Her father replies to her, “You should not say such things, daughter… It would be shameful for us both…We could neither have his trust nor bind him in friendly alliance.” (Saga, 39) It was integral to forge marriage bond to keep the betrayal low, and the loyalty high among the Kings of the

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