Literature

Icelandic. The ancient literature of Scandinavia in the Old Norse tongue has been preserved in Iceland. It consists of the Eddas, the Sagas, and the poems of the Skalds. It is discussed in separate articles under these three heads. The systematizing of these remains is due to the intelligent and painstaking labor of Icelandic scholars. No modern Icelandic works can compare in interest with these ancient writings. However, the people of Iceland are intelligent and progressive, and since the middle of the eighteenth century work has been done by them in nearly every department of literature. The most important works of European nations have been translated into the Icelandic tongue. See Edda; Saga; Skald