Anonymous, Þorsteins þáttr skelks [The Tale of Thorstein Shiver]

Ármann Jakobsson (University of Iceland)

Ed. by Ármann Jakobsson, University of Iceland
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.3.4: Icelandic Writing and Culture.
Vol. editors: Ármann Jakobsson (University of Iceland), Kjerstin Moody (Gustavus Adolphus College), Sven Hakon Rossel (Universitat Wien), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jakob Stougaard-Nielsen (University College London)

Dates

First circulation or publication c. 1200 - c. 1300

Places

Iceland (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Story

Resources

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“Þorsteins þáttr skelks” is a short tale preserved within Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar in the large compendium

Flateyjarbók

(GKS 1005 fol.) but does not appear in other fourteenth century versions of the Greatest Saga of Óláfr Tryggvason (Óláfs saga in mesta) and must be considered a narrative from the late fourteenth century. The saga of Norwegian missionary king Óláfr Tryggvason contains episodes that are entire sagas, such as Fœreyinga saga, Hallfreðar saga vandræðaskálds and Jómsvíkinga saga. Also contained within this saga are shorter narratives, which are now commonly published under the title “þættir” [episodes], many connected to Christian missionaries, conversion, and the battle between Christianity and paganism and one such as “Þorsteins þáttr…

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790 words

Citation: Jakobsson, Ármann. "Þorsteins þáttr skelks". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 22 May 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=41000, accessed 25 April 2024.]

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