World in Words

At World in Words, visitors have the opportunity to view the Icelandic manuscripts – the nation’s most precious cultural heritage. The manuscripts contain many ancient and renowned sagas and poems, but also various other texts that reflect how previous generations thought about their lives and their society.

The exhibition’s primary focus is on presenting the rich and complex world of the manuscripts, where life and death, passion and religion, and honour and power all come into play. The exhibition looks at how influences from overseas left their mark on the culture of Icelandic mediaeval society and the Icelandic language, but it also consider the influence that Icelandic literature has had in other countries.

Creation is a major theme of the exhibition; both the creation of the manuscripts and the world surrounding them, but also the constant act of creation that is instilled in the language itself. Various media is used to present the material. In addition to viewing the manuscripts themselves, visitors can explore texts and touch screens, watch videos, listen to readings of all sorts and take part in interactive play.