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Old Norse literature refers to the vernacular literature of the Scandinavian people up to c. 1350. It mainly consists ofIcelandic writings.
From the 8th to the 15th centuries, Vikings and Norse settlers and their descendantscolonised parts of what is now modern Scotland. SomeOld Norse poetry survives relating to this era. TheOrkneyinga saga (also called theHistory of the Earls of Orkney) is a historical narrative of the history of theOrkney Islands, from their capture by the Norwegian king in the 9th century onwards until about 1200.[1] 20th-century poetGeorge Mackay Brown was influenced by the saga, notably for his 1973 novelMagnus. The IcelandicNjáls saga includes actions taking place in Orkney and Wales. Besides these Icelandic sagas a few examples, sometimes fragmentary, of Norse poetry composed in Scotland survive.[2] Among the runic inscriptions atMaeshowe is a text identified as irregular verse.[3] Scandinavian cultural contacts in theDanelaw also left legacies in literature.Höfuðlausn or the "Head's Ransom" is askaldic poem attributed toEgill Skalla-Grímsson in praise of kingEirik Bloodaxe in the Kingdom ofNorthumbria.
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