Historical studies of Icelandic Sagas reveal Vikings had dark humor and joked even during deadly battles.
It was a mixture of sarcasm, irony, and unusual jokes. The Vikings' approach was that if you knew you were going to die, why not do it laughing.
Death was never something Vikings feared because they believed that a warrior who died in battle was rewarded and could join all other great fighters in Valhalla, a majestic, enormous hall located in Asgard, ruled over by the great god Odin.
Written during the Middle Ages, Icelandic Sagas tell stories of Vikings, and usually, the tales all centered around various kinds of disputes that ended in battles between the Vikings. Often two or more families could be involved in blood feuds that lasted decades or generations.
According to historian Trine Buhl at the Århus University in Denmark, authors of the Icelandic Sagas deliberately added dark humor to their tales. Without it the stories would be boring.
There are several examples of sarcasm and dark humor in the Sagas. For instance in the Droplaugarsona Saga, written sometime in the 13th century, tells about Droplaug's two sons, Grímr and Helgi.
When the Viking Helgi gets his lower lip cut off in a battle, he says to his opponent:
"I have never been particularly handsome and you haven't exactly improved my attractiveness."
This remark shows Viking Helgi possessed self-knowledge and self-deprecating humor.
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