Final answer:
Icelandic folk tales share themes with other cultures, particularly the Norse and Scandinavian traditions, with common elements such as nature, magic, and animals. They are part of a wider human interest in origin stories and the oral transmission of epic tales and myths.
Step-by-step explanation:
Icelandic folk tales share characteristics with other cultures, especially those influenced by the Norse and Scandinavian mythological tradition. Similar to other cultures, they often feature themes of nature and magic, which is a common thread in many folkloric traditions around the world. For example, the Inuit, who also live in northern latitudes, have a rich mythology that includes stories of supernatural hunts and creatures, which resonate with the natural phenomena such as the northern lights. This suggests a shared importance of nature in these cultures.
Like the earth-diver myth studied by Alan Dundes, Icelandic creation tales often have analogs in other origin stories, showing a shared human interest in explaining our beginnings. Icelandic tales, while having their unique aspects and characters anchored in local folklore, do exhibit similarities to Norse and Scandinavian mythology. This is expected as Iceland's settlement history is closely linked to these regions. The connection is further exemplified by animal characters, which are prevalent in Icelandic stories as they are in many European and global traditions. The motif of animals teaching lessons or representing cultural values can also be seen in tales across different cultures, including the well-known story of Chicken Little.
Furthermore, Icelandic culture, like its Nordic counterparts, values the oral transmission of stories. This tradition is reflected in the way ancient Germanic peoples, including Norse societies, shared their epic tales through spoken word before they were written down. The emphasis on oral culture is a connection shared by many cultures worldwide and is a key aspect of how folklore is transmitted across generations.