Geography
Location
Climate
Physical Characteristics
Iceland is a central plateau that is ringed by mountains and volcanoes. Due to Iceland being on top fo the Mid Atlantic Ridge, the island has many active volcanoes and there is an average of one eruption every five years. On the coasts, there are many fjords that make excellent places for towns and harbors. A fjord is a narrow river that leads to sea created by moving glaciers. Glaciers and lava fields take up 23% of the country's surface area, which is more than any other country in Europe. There are also smaller common landforms like geysers, hot springs, lakes, and snowfields scattered throughout Iceland.
Population
Culture
Customs and Traditions
Icelanders have many traditions, one of which is the drink milk. It is a traditional drink to their culture. Icelanders have a casual view on marriage, with 70 percent of all children in the country having been born illegitimately. Also, an illegitimate child carries no social stigma. They also have a strong work ethic and most children hold summer jobs and many Icelanders have 2-3 jobs. Even today, many Icelanders believe in supernatural creatures like giants, wargs, and trolls.
Religions
Languages
Food
How Gerald the coward was punished
Andrew Lang
Synopsis
Typical Characteristics
Special Beginning
The story begins with once upon a time, which is a special beginning.
Good Character
The good character of the story is Rosald, the son of a poor knight. He is good because he slew a band of robbers and slew a gang that had killed 50 of a King''s knights
Evil Character
Geirald is more misguided than evil, he is a coward who takes the credit for Rosald's great deeds. He does get punished, as after Rosald marries the princess "a poor beggar knocked at the palace gates and asked for money", and that beggar was Geirald (Lang).
Royalty and/or Castle
This motif is present, Geirald and Rosald go to a king's castle and kill a giant for him. Later on, Rosald even marries a princess.
Magic Use/Something Magical
This motif is present, Geirald and Rosald are sent to kill a giant by the king, which is a magical creature of Norse mythology.
Problem/Solution
This motif is present, there are many problems and solutions. First, Rosald and Geirald must kill a band of robbers, which Rosald does by causing "a shower of huge stones [to] fall on their heads" (Lang). Later, they must fight a magical giant who is so powerful "that even fifty knights have no chance against him" (Lang). Rosald kills the giant by making a spiked club and killing the giant as he walked outside. The final problem is the princess wishes to marry the bravest of the two, but has no way to tell if Geirald or Rosald did the great deeds. She finds out Rosald is brave because Geirald is hiding under his bed on the day the two are scheduled to fight to the death.
3s or 7s
This motif is present, but only once. When Geirald and Rosald are tasked with killing the giant, the king gives them tree days of preparation before riding to his lair.
Connection to iceland
Credits:
Created with images by Moyan_Brenn - "Iceland" • JimboChan - "basalt bars sunset iceland" • tpsdave - "iceland mountains sky" • Moyan_Brenn - "Iceland" • Bernard McManus - "Reykjavik from Hallgrimskirkja" • PublicDomainPictures - "evening breakwater fishermen" • mckaysavage - "Iceland - Reykjavik 110 - Landakotskirkja Church" • Ronile - "iceland gamme home" • moohaha - "Garlic Roasted Langoustines" • Bill Ward's Brickpile - "Dimmuborgir 17" • fotshot - "dunrobin castle architecture" • JimboChan - "kirkjufell magical mountain iceland" Gall, Timothy L. "Icelanders." Ed. Allison K. McNeil, Andrea K. Henderson, Lawrence W. Baker, Michelle DiMercurio, and Randy Basset. Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life. Comp. Shanna P. Heilveil. Vol. 4. Detroit: Gale, 1998. N. 190-94. Print. "Iceland." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 10 Nov. 2016. school.eb.com/levels/high/article/Iceland/106235. Accessed 6 Apr. 2017. "ANDREW LANG'S FAIRY BOOKS." From Andrew Lang's Fairy Books. N.p., 12 July 2003. Web. 06 Apr. 2017. Gall, Timothy L., and Jeneen M. Hobby. Worldmark encyclopedia of the nations. Detroit, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007. Print.