RG 2

English W170
Representations of Vikings

Reading Guide, Wilhoit, Critical Reading and Summary

5 pts
Due 8/27
1) What five qualities should you strive for in an effective summary?
An effective summary should be comprehensive, brief, accurate, neutral, and
independent.
2) Pick one of the major sections of Kelloggs Introduction to The Sagas of Icelanders
(i.e., I. The Age of the Vikings, II. Forms of Icelandic Narrative, III. The Rhetoric of
History, etc.) and write your own brief summary of it below.
In the third part of Kelloggs Introduction named III. The Rhetoric of History.,
Kellogg explains how writers of the Saga Age used many forms rhetoric to portray a
sense of credibility with their writings. He goes into depth about certain devices that
were commonly used by authors of this time such as irony, humor, wit, charming poetic
devices, along with multiple other devices. He also analyzes how these elements were
effectively used to convey a plausible message to readers. He uses examples from various
writings to prove the effectiveness of these devices and in conclusion he states that there
is evidence that supports that the events from the Viking Age that these writers portray
likely happened and that despite the fictional elements that surround them, these writers
are credible in their writing.
3) Now Google Robert Kellogg (this may take a little digging) who is he? What experience
does he have with Vikings? Why should or shouldnt you take him at his word in this
introduction?
Robert Kellogg is an English professor and has be known to be well versed in Old
Icelandic. He has done more than a substantial amount of research on the Saga Age and
has even been labeled as a saga scholar so I believe his word and message is very
trustworthy due to his lengthy background in the subject.
4) Describe the tone of the section that you chose. Who would you guess is the target
audience for this Introduction? What does Kellogg guess about his audience based on the
way he writes for them?
The tone of this passage seemed very direct and scholarly with the plethora of examples
of the various uses of rhetoric found in these writings as well as his straightforward
exploitation of how these devices were manipulated. Along with these elements, the
strong belief at the end of the passage that reinforces Kelloggs claim that the stories

from the Saga Age are based off actual past events from the Viking Age seem to be
presented in a very direct tone as well.