Primary sources are documents and artifacts that come directly from the past. The Vinland Sagas are two Icelandic texts and primary sources that include the “Saga of the Greenlanders” and the “Saga of Eirik the Red.” Both sagas tell similar yet different stories of Norse voyages to North America, a place that Leif Eirikson named Vinland (wine land). The Vinland Sagas tell how the Norse people traveled to North America and created settlements there until a battle with the natives broke out. The first of the Vinland Sagas is the “Saga of the Greenlanders” which focuses more on the voyages and settlements made by Bjarni Herjolfsson, Eirik the Red’s children, and Thorfinn Karlsefni. The second part of the Vinland Sagas is the “Saga of Eirik the
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When it comes to Viking sagas, biases are very evident because these sages “glorify their adventures and show great esteem for them.” Furthermore, the authors of the Vinland Sagas display their biases. In both sagas, for example, they mention how successful the Viking settlement was in the new land they discovered, but never mention why they never returned to that land. The sagas creators’ biases then becomes clear because they left out these details, leaving the reader questioning why the Vikings never returned. In the “Saga of the Greenlanders,” the author says that “they fought and a large number of the natives were killed”, however, they never mention how many of the Vikings were killed during the battle. By not mentioning how many of the Vikings were defeated in battle, the reader is left believing that none of the Vikings were defeated in battle against the natives. Another bias that is present in the sagas is how the authors have the Vikings appear as brave warriors that do not fear death. This is most evident with Freydis in the “Saga of Eirik the Red.” In the saga, the author claims that Freydis picked up a sword and “prepared to defend herself with it as the natives approached her. Freeing one of her breasts from her shift, she smacked the sword with it. This frightened the natives, who turned and ran back to their boats and rowed away.” Furthermore, Freydis is an example that ultimately shows that even Norse women were courageous and did not fear death, which additionally demonstrates the author’s
When it comes to Viking sagas, biases are very evident because these sages “glorify their adventures and show great esteem for them.” Furthermore, the authors of the Vinland Sagas display their biases. In both sagas, for example, they mention how successful the Viking settlement was in the new land they discovered, but never mention why they never returned to that land. The sagas creators’ biases then becomes clear because they left out these details, leaving the reader questioning why the Vikings never returned. In the “Saga of the Greenlanders,” the author says that “they fought and a large number of the natives were killed”, however, they never mention how many of the Vikings were killed during the battle. By not mentioning how many of the Vikings were defeated in battle, the reader is left believing that none of the Vikings were defeated in battle against the natives. Another bias that is present in the sagas is how the authors have the Vikings appear as brave warriors that do not fear death. This is most evident with Freydis in the “Saga of Eirik the Red.” In the saga, the author claims that Freydis picked up a sword and “prepared to defend herself with it as the natives approached her. Freeing one of her breasts from her shift, she smacked the sword with it. This frightened the natives, who turned and ran back to their boats and rowed away.” Furthermore, Freydis is an example that ultimately shows that even Norse women were courageous and did not fear death, which additionally demonstrates the author’s