Hines, John. Kingship in Egils saga

• Author: Hines, John
• Title: Kingship in Egils saga
• Published in: Introductory Essays on Egils saga and Njáls saga
• Editors: John Hines, Desmond Slay.
• Place, Publisher: London: Viking Society for Northern Research
• Year: 1992.
• Pages: 15-32.
• E-text: Viking Society Web Publications
• Reference: Hines, John. "Kingship in Egils saga." Introductory Essays on Egils saga and Njáls saga, pp. 15-32. Eds. John Hines, Desmond Slay. London: Viking Society for Northern Research, 1992.

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• Key words: literary elements, characterization (bókmenntaleg einkenni, persónusköpun)

Annotation

Looks at Egils saga’s treatment of the relationship between kings and other characters, especially Egill. Examines the varying function and character of kings in the saga and identifies two opposing themes: one of dependence on kings and the other of conflict with them. Factors affecting attitudes toward kingship are examined, for example whether a king is fighting with or against central saga characters. Looks at the relationship of kingship to the fate of an individual, the nature of Egill’s heroism and the way contrasts and parallels are made between characters.

Lýsing

Í greininni er kannað hvernig sambandi konungs við aðrar persónur Eglu, ekki síst Egil, er lýst. Hines greinir persónuleika og hlutverk konunganna í sögunni og segir að tvö andstæð minni komi í ljós: annars vegar er lýst mönnum sem eru háðir konungnum og hins vegar mönnum sem eiga í útistöðum við hann. Kannað er hvaða þættir hafa áhrif á afstöðu manna til konungsvaldsins, til að mynda hvort konungur sé að berjast með eða gegn höfuðpersónunum. Þá er varpað ljósi á hvernig sambandið við konunginn hefur áhrif á örlög einstaklingsins, hvers eðlis hetjuskapur Egils er og með hvaða hætti dregnar eru fram hliðstæður og andstæður milli persóna.

See also

• Guðrún Nordal. Sturlunga saga and the context of saga-writing
• Finlay, Alison. Egils saga and other poets’ sagas
• Larrington, Carolyne. Egill‘s longer Poems: Arinbjarnarkviða and Sonatorrek
• Jesch, Judith. "Good men" and peace in Njáls saga
• O'Donoghue, Heather. Women in Njáls saga
• Hamer, Andrew. "It seemed to me that the sweetest light of my eyes had been extinguished"
• McTurk, Rory W. The supernatural in Njáls saga
• Robinson, Peter. Vikings and Celts
• Hines, John. Egils saga and Njáls saga: bibliographical guides

References

Chapter 22: bánasár: "In this case an inexperienced Haraldr has multiplied his problems with his power, in particular the problems of facing rival claims for his favour and the readiness of some subjects to manipulate his favour for their personal ends. Such problems in fact would thrive upon the fact of his otherwise being a successful and effective king in enforcing his will through battle. His skill in this respect is particularly clear in his slaying of Þórólfr: it may be the wrong thing to do, but he does it in a sure and certain manner." (p. 22).

Chapter 65: lög hér í landi og rétt hverjum manni: "There is an obvious comfort for subjects in finding a strong, benign and paternal figure in the king, a king to give law, favour, praise and reward - all of which, despite his family's virtualfeud with the Norwegian royal family, Egill seeks from, variously, Eiríkr, Athelstan and Hákon." (p. 31).

Links

• Written by: Jane Appleton
• Icelandic translation: Jón Karl Helgason