Örvar-Oddr: Difference between revisions
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==Plot summary== |
==Plot summary== |
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=== Prophecy === |
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Oddr was the son of [[Gríms saga loðinkinna|Grímr Loðinkinni]] and the grandson of [[Ketils saga hœngs|Ketill Hængr]] (both of whom have their own sagas) of [[Hålogaland]]. When he was an infant, a [[völva]] predicted that he would be killed by his own horse Faxi, at the place where he was born, at the age of three hundred (which may very well signify 360, as a ''hundred'' by the time was a unit of numbers denoting 120, not 100 - which have been called a petty hundred). |
Oddr was the son of [[Gríms saga loðinkinna|Grímr Loðinkinni]] and the grandson of [[Ketils saga hœngs|Ketill Hængr]] (both of whom have their own sagas) of [[Hålogaland]]. When he was an infant, a [[völva]] predicted that he would be killed by his own horse Faxi, at the place where he was born, at the age of three hundred (which may very well signify 360, as a ''hundred'' by the time was a unit of numbers denoting 120, not 100 - which have been called a petty hundred). |
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In order to undo the prediction, he killed his horse, buried it deep in the ground and left his home intending never to return again. As he was leaving, his father gave him some magic arrows (''Gusisnautar'') which soon earned him the [[cognomen]] ''arrow''. After a voyage to [[Finnmark]], [[Bjarmaland]], [[Holmgård]], [[Constantinople]] and [[Jotunheim]], he fought successfully against several Vikings. |
In order to undo the prediction, he killed his horse, buried it deep in the ground and left his home intending never to return again. As he was leaving, his father gave him some magic arrows (''Gusisnautar'') which soon earned him the [[cognomen]] ''arrow''. After a voyage to [[Finnmark]], [[Bjarmaland]], [[Holmgård]], [[Constantinople]] and [[Jotunheim]], he fought successfully against several Vikings. |
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=== Hjalmar and Angantyr === |
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However, when he encountered the Swedish champion [[Hjalmar]], he met his match. The fight was even and the two warriors not only became friends, but entered [[sworn brotherhood]]. |
However, when he encountered the Swedish champion [[Hjalmar]], he met his match. The fight was even and the two warriors not only became friends, but entered [[sworn brotherhood]]. |
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Örvar-Oddr travelled in the South fighting against the corsairs of the [[Mediterranean]], he was baptised in [[Sicily]], was shipwrecked and arrived alone in the [[Holy Land]]. |
Örvar-Oddr travelled in the South fighting against the corsairs of the [[Mediterranean]], he was baptised in [[Sicily]], was shipwrecked and arrived alone in the [[Holy Land]]. |
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=== Ögmundr Flóki === |
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While seeking vengeance against Ogmund Tussock for the murder of his blood-brother Thord, Oddr is accompanied by his giant son Vignir. During their voyage, they encounter two large sea-creatures<ref>{{cite book|last=Boer|first=R. C.|title=Örvar-Odds saga|url=https://archive.org/details/rvaroddssaga00boergoog|year=1888|publisher=E. J. Brill|location=Leiden|oclc=462860153|pages=[https://archive.org/details/rvaroddssaga00boergoog/page/n194 132]}}</ref> as described by Vignir:<ref>{{cite book|last=Hermann Palsson|first=Paul Edwards|title=Seven Viking Romances|year=1985|publisher=Penguin Books Canada Ltd|location=10 Alcorn Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4V 3B2|isbn=978-0-14-044474-2|pages=[https://archive.org/details/sevenvikingroman00herm/page/86 86]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/sevenvikingroman00herm/page/86}}</ref> |
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Oddr sought vengeance against Ögmundr Flóki ("Ogmund Tussock" or Ögmundr 'tuft';<ref name=lane-tussock/><ref name=tracy-tussock/> aka Ögmundr Eyþjófsbani{{sfnp|Fox|2020|p=175}} or "Eythjof's-killer"<ref name=edwards&palsson-tr-ch13-thord/>) for the murder of his blood-brother Þórðr stafnglamr (Thord Prow-Gleam).<ref name=edwards&palsson-tr-ch13-thord/> He and his crew headed toward a [[fjord]] in [[Helluland]] ("Slabland"), where Ögmundr was to be found, according to Oddr's half-giant son, Vignir. During their voyage, they encounter two huge sea-creatures that resembled islands: |
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{{quote| |
{{quote|…said Vignir. "I'll tell you about it; these were two sea-monsters, one called [[Hafgufa|Sea-Reek]], and the other [[Lyngbakr|Heather-Back]]. The Sea-Reek is the biggest monster in the whole ocean. It swallows men and ships, and whales too, and anything else around. It stays underwater for days, then it puts up its mouth and nostrils, and when it does, it never stays on the surface for less than one tide.<ref>{{harvp|Boer|1888}}, p.[https://archive.org/details/rvaroddssaga00boergoog/page/n194 132]}}</ref><ref name=edwards&palsson-tr-ch21-hafgufa/>}} |
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There had been five men sent to disembark on what they thought was an island, but the Heather-Back (''lyngbakr'') plunged into sea, and those men perished.<ref name=kalinke/> However, the group had safely sailed through the jaws of the Sea-Reek (''hafgufa''), the other monster that Ögmundr had sent by magic to intercept the party.<ref name=edwards&palsson-tr-ch21-hafgufa/> |
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These creatures later described in an Old Norwegian scientific work [[Konungs skuggsjá]] (c. 1250), were to come to be understood as what the Norse regarded as the [[Kraken]]. This is seemingly one of the first references to the Kraken. |
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=== Barkman === |
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Oddr becomes Barkman (naefrmaðr'', 'birch bark man'), a sort of wildman dressed in bark.{{sfnp|Fox|2020|p=162}} He arrived in [[Hunaland]] and meets King Herrauðr, where his true identity was soon revealed due to his heroic actions..<ref>{{harvp|Boer|1888}}, pp.[https://books.google.com/books?d=7lBG_YS0J-0C&pg=PA139 139–141]}}</ref><ref name=edwards&palsson-tr-ch24/> After defeating the king of Bjalkaland ("pelt country"), who used to pay tribute to the king of Hunaland, he married the Herrauðr' daughter Silkisif and became the next king. |
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=== Death === |
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After all this, |
After all this, Oddr became homesick and went back home. Walking over the grave of Faxi, he mocked the old prophecy, but tripped over the skull of a horse from which a snake appeared. The snake bit him and he died. |
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==Analysis== |
==Analysis== |
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The motive of Örvar-Oddr's mocking the prophecy and death has parallels in the [[Primary Chronicle]], which describes the manner of the death of [[Oleg of Novgorod|Oleg]] (also of Varangian origin) in similar terms. Oleg's death from "the skull of a horse" is also the subject of one of the best known ballads in the [[Russian language]], written by [[Alexander Pushkin]] in 1826. |
The motive of Örvar-Oddr's mocking the prophecy and death has parallels in the [[Primary Chronicle]], which describes the manner of the death of [[Oleg of Novgorod|Oleg]] (also of Varangian origin) in similar terms. Oleg's death from "the skull of a horse" is also the subject of one of the best known ballads in the [[Russian language]], written by [[Alexander Pushkin]] in 1826. |
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Ögmundr Flóki owned a cloak made from the beards of kings he collected, as did the giant of Mont Saint-Michel, enemy of King Arthur in Brittany.{{sfnp|Tracy|2017|pp=327–328}}{{Refn|group="lower-alpha"|The giant which was was called Retho by [[Geoffrey of Monmouth]], and Royns (Ryence, Ryens, Ryons) by [[Thomas Malory]].<ref name=nickel/>}} |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* ''[[Hrafnistumannasögur]]'' |
* ''[[Hrafnistumannasögur]]'' |
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== Explanatory notes== |
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{{notelist}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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;Citations |
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{{reflist |
{{reflist|30em|refs= |
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<ref name=edwards&palsson-tr-ch13-thord>{{harvp|Edwards|Pálsson|1970}} "Ch. 13. Ogmund Eythiof's Killer", pp. 36–39.</ref> |
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<ref name=edwards&palsson-tr-ch21-hafgufa>{{harvp|Edwards|Pálsson|1970}} "Ch. 21. Family Reunion", pp. 68–69 (in the first edition, "sea-reek" and "heather-back" are non-capitalised); {{harvp|Edwards|Pálsson|1985}}, pp. 85–[https://archive.org/details/sevenvikingroman00herm/page/86 86]</ref> |
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<ref name=edwards&palsson-tr-ch24>{{harvp|Edwards|Pálsson|1970}} "Ch. 24. King Herraud", pp. 75–79.</ref> |
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<ref name=kalinke>{{cite journal|last=Kalinke |first=Marianne E. |author-link=:is:Marianne E. Kalinke |title= Reykjahólabók:A Legendary on the Eve of the Reformation |journal=Skáldskaparmál |volume=2 |date=January 1992 |url=https://timarit.is/page/6487990#page/n249/mode/2up |page=28, note 17<!--238/169-->}}</ref> |
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<ref name=nickel>{{cite journal|last=Nickel |first=Helmut |author-link=:de:Helmut Nickel |title=The Fight about King Arthur's Beard and for the Cloak of Kings' Beards |journal=Interpretations |volume=16 |number=1 |date=Fall 1985 |publisher=Scriptorium Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fUcqAQAAIAAJ&q=Ryence |pages=1–7|jstor=43797841}}</ref> |
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<ref name=lane-tussock>{{harvp|Lane|1971|p=90}}, note 2: "'Tussock' is a poor translation of ''flóki'' anyway. Something like "tuft" would be better, since it undoubtedly referred to some sort of hairy feature. The word tussock, while it now-a-days brings grass to most people's minds".</ref> |
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<ref name=tracy-tussock>{{harvp|Tracy|2017|p=327}} defends the "Tussock" translation saying: "flóki'' refers to a section of matted hair, like wool or felt, which resembles a grass lump rather than the standard ''[[wikt:toppr|topprinn]]'', or a lock of hair". In her quote (text vs. translation) ''toppurinn'' is rendered "forelock" (cf. mod. Icel. ''[[wikt:hártoppur|]]'').</ref> |
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}} |
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;Bibliography |
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{{refbegin}} |
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* {{cite book|editor-last=Boer |editor-first=Richard Constant |editor-link=Richard Constant Boer |title=Örvar-Odds saga |year=1888 |publisher=E. J. Brill |location=Leiden|oclc=462860153 |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/rvaroddssaga00boergoog |archive-date=2008-05-13 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=7lBG_YS0J-0C |pages=}}<!--(1892) https://books.google.com/books?id=wuEOAAAAQAAJ--> |
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| ⚫ | *{{cite book|editor1-last=Edwards |editor1-first=Paul |editor1-link=Paul Edwards (literary scholar) |editor2-last=Pálsson |editor2-first=Hermann |editor2-link=Hermann Pálsson |title=Arrow-Odd: A Medieval Novel |location=New York |publisher=New York University Press |year=1970 |sbn=8147-0458-1 }} (First English translation) |
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*{{cite book|last1=Edwards |first1=Paul |author1-link=Paul Edwards (literary scholar) |last2=Pálsson |first2=Hermann (trr.) |author2-link=Hermann Pálsson |title=Seven Viking Romances |year=1985 |location=Toronto |publisher=Penguin Books Canada Ltd |isbn=978-0-14-044474-2 |pages=|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/sevenvikingroman00herm/page/86}} |
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* {{cite book|last=Fox |first=Michael |author-link=<!--Michael Fox, associate professor in the Department of English at the University of Alberta--> |title=Following the Formula in Beowulf, Örvar-Odds saga, and Tolkien |publisher=Springer Nature |date=2020 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RHD-DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA175 |page= |isbn=<!--3030481344, -->9783030481346}} |
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*{{cite journal|last=Lane |first=George S. |author-link=George Sherman Lane |title=(Review): Arrow-Odd: A Medieval Novel by Paul Edwards and Hermann Pálsson |journal=Scandinavian Studies |volume=43 |number=1 |date=Winter 1971 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Czk8AAAAIAAJ&q=Tussock |pages=89–91}} |
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* {{citation|last=Tracy |first=Larissa |author-link=<!--Larissa Tracy--> |title=Face Off: Flayed Beards and Identity in Medieval Romance |editor-last=Tracy |editor-first=Larissa |editor-link=<!--Larissa Tracy--> |work=Flaying in the Pre-modern World: Practice and Representation |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |date=2017 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_bM4DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA322 |pages=322–348 |isbn=<!--1843844524, -->9781843844525}} |
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==Translations== |
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{{refend}} |
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| ⚫ | |||
*{{cite book|last=Waggoner|first=Ben|title=The Hrafnista Sagas|year=2012|publisher=Troth Publications|location=New Haven, CT|isbn=978-0557729418}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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Revision as of 15:53, 11 January 2022
Örvar-Oddr (Old Norse: Ǫrvar-Oddr [ˈɔrvɑr-ˌodːr̩], "Arrow-Odd" or "Arrow's Point") is a legendary hero about whom an anonymous Icelander wrote a fornaldarsaga in the latter part of the 13th century. Örvar-Odds saga, the Saga of Örvar-Odd, became very popular and contains old legends and songs. He also appears in Hervarar saga and, concerning the battle on Samsø, in Gesta Danorum.
Plot summary
Prophecy
Oddr was the son of Grímr Loðinkinni and the grandson of Ketill Hængr (both of whom have their own sagas) of Hålogaland. When he was an infant, a völva predicted that he would be killed by his own horse Faxi, at the place where he was born, at the age of three hundred (which may very well signify 360, as a hundred by the time was a unit of numbers denoting 120, not 100 - which have been called a petty hundred).
In order to undo the prediction, he killed his horse, buried it deep in the ground and left his home intending never to return again. As he was leaving, his father gave him some magic arrows (Gusisnautar) which soon earned him the cognomen arrow. After a voyage to Finnmark, Bjarmaland, Holmgård, Constantinople and Jotunheim, he fought successfully against several Vikings.
Hjalmar and Angantyr
However, when he encountered the Swedish champion Hjalmar, he met his match. The fight was even and the two warriors not only became friends, but entered sworn brotherhood.
The two heroes fought many battles together (for more see Hjalmar), until after the famous battle of Samsø against the sons of Arngrim, Örvar-Oddr had to bring the dead Hjalmar (killed by Angantyr) to Uppsala and his betrothed Ingeborg, the daughter of the Swedish king.
Örvar-Oddr travelled in the South fighting against the corsairs of the Mediterranean, he was baptised in Sicily, was shipwrecked and arrived alone in the Holy Land.
Ögmundr Flóki
Oddr sought vengeance against Ögmundr Flóki ("Ogmund Tussock" or Ögmundr 'tuft';[1][2] aka Ögmundr Eyþjófsbani[3] or "Eythjof's-killer"[4]) for the murder of his blood-brother Þórðr stafnglamr (Thord Prow-Gleam).[4] He and his crew headed toward a fjord in Helluland ("Slabland"), where Ögmundr was to be found, according to Oddr's half-giant son, Vignir. During their voyage, they encounter two huge sea-creatures that resembled islands:
…said Vignir. "I'll tell you about it; these were two sea-monsters, one called Sea-Reek, and the other Heather-Back. The Sea-Reek is the biggest monster in the whole ocean. It swallows men and ships, and whales too, and anything else around. It stays underwater for days, then it puts up its mouth and nostrils, and when it does, it never stays on the surface for less than one tide.[5][6]
There had been five men sent to disembark on what they thought was an island, but the Heather-Back (lyngbakr) plunged into sea, and those men perished.[7] However, the group had safely sailed through the jaws of the Sea-Reek (hafgufa), the other monster that Ögmundr had sent by magic to intercept the party.[6]
Barkman
Oddr becomes Barkman (naefrmaðr, 'birch bark man'), a sort of wildman dressed in bark.[8] He arrived in Hunaland and meets King Herrauðr, where his true identity was soon revealed due to his heroic actions..[9][10] After defeating the king of Bjalkaland ("pelt country"), who used to pay tribute to the king of Hunaland, he married the Herrauðr' daughter Silkisif and became the next king.
Death
After all this, Oddr became homesick and went back home. Walking over the grave of Faxi, he mocked the old prophecy, but tripped over the skull of a horse from which a snake appeared. The snake bit him and he died.
Analysis
The saga includes several stories, such as the voyage of Ottar from Hålogaland to Bjarmaland, the legend of Hjalmar's foster-brother (originally named Söte), Starkaðr, Ketil Höing, Odysseus and Polyphemus, Sigurd Jorsalfare and the Rus' ruler Oleg of Novgorod (the attack on Bjalkaland).
The motive of Örvar-Oddr's mocking the prophecy and death has parallels in the Primary Chronicle, which describes the manner of the death of Oleg (also of Varangian origin) in similar terms. Oleg's death from "the skull of a horse" is also the subject of one of the best known ballads in the Russian language, written by Alexander Pushkin in 1826.
Ögmundr Flóki owned a cloak made from the beards of kings he collected, as did the giant of Mont Saint-Michel, enemy of King Arthur in Brittany.[11][a]
See also
Explanatory notes
- ^ The giant which was was called Retho by Geoffrey of Monmouth, and Royns (Ryence, Ryens, Ryons) by Thomas Malory.[12]
References
- Citations
- ^ Lane (1971), p. 90, note 2: "'Tussock' is a poor translation of flóki anyway. Something like "tuft" would be better, since it undoubtedly referred to some sort of hairy feature. The word tussock, while it now-a-days brings grass to most people's minds".
- ^ Tracy (2017), p. 327 defends the "Tussock" translation saying: "flóki refers to a section of matted hair, like wool or felt, which resembles a grass lump rather than the standard topprinn, or a lock of hair". In her quote (text vs. translation) toppurinn is rendered "forelock" (cf. mod. Icel. [[wikt:hártoppur|]]).
- ^ Fox (2020), p. 175.
- ^ a b Edwards & Pálsson (1970) "Ch. 13. Ogmund Eythiof's Killer", pp. 36–39.
- ^ Boer (1888), p.132}}
- ^ a b Edwards & Pálsson (1970) "Ch. 21. Family Reunion", pp. 68–69 (in the first edition, "sea-reek" and "heather-back" are non-capitalised); Edwards & Pálsson (1985), pp. 85–86
- ^ Kalinke, Marianne E. [in Icelandic] (January 1992). "Reykjahólabók:A Legendary on the Eve of the Reformation". Skáldskaparmál. 2: 28, note 17.
- ^ Fox (2020), p. 162.
- ^ Boer (1888), pp.139–141}}
- ^ Edwards & Pálsson (1970) "Ch. 24. King Herraud", pp. 75–79.
- ^ Tracy (2017), pp. 327–328.
- ^ Nickel, Helmut [in German] (Fall 1985). "The Fight about King Arthur's Beard and for the Cloak of Kings' Beards". Interpretations. 16 (1). Scriptorium Press: 1–7. JSTOR 43797841.
- Bibliography
- Boer, Richard Constant, ed. (1888). Örvar-Odds saga. Leiden: E. J. Brill. OCLC 462860153. Archived from the original on 2008-05-13.
- Edwards, Paul; Pálsson, Hermann, eds. (1970). Arrow-Odd: A Medieval Novel. New York: New York University Press. SBN 8147-0458-1. (First English translation)
- Edwards, Paul; Pálsson, Hermann (trr.) (1985). Seven Viking Romances. Toronto: Penguin Books Canada Ltd. ISBN 978-0-14-044474-2.
- Fox, Michael (2020). Following the Formula in Beowulf, Örvar-Odds saga, and Tolkien. Springer Nature. ISBN 9783030481346.
- Lane, George S. (Winter 1971). "(Review): Arrow-Odd: A Medieval Novel by Paul Edwards and Hermann Pálsson". Scandinavian Studies. 43 (1): 89–91.
- Tracy, Larissa (2017), Tracy, Larissa (ed.), "Face Off: Flayed Beards and Identity in Medieval Romance", Flaying in the Pre-modern World: Practice and Representation, Boydell & Brewer, pp. 322–348, ISBN 9781843844525
External links
- Proverbs and proverbial materials in Örvar-Odds saga
- The Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus on Orvar-Odd
- The Old Norse text of the Saga
This article contains content from the Owl Edition of Nordisk familjebok, a Swedish encyclopedia published between 1904 and 1926, now in the public domain.