Anonymous, Hrafnkels saga Freysgoða

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. 1400

Places

Iceland (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Prose Fiction Narrative

Resources

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Hrafnkels saga Freysgoða is a short medieval Icelandic prose narrative account of a feud between the bullying magnate Hrafnkell Hallfreðarson and Sámr Bjarnason who manages to drive Hrafnkell from power, but is later toppled by him again. The story takes place in the east of Iceland and is one of only a few sagas of Icelanders that deals solely with tenth century events, before the arrival of Christianity in Iceland. Hrafnkell is devoted to the Old Norse god Freyr in the beginning of the narrative but later denounces Freyr and rejects religion in general. His style of government also changes after he suffers a setback, and he becomes a more fair and lenient magnate.

After an introduction concerning a prophetic dream of Hrafnkel’s father Hallfreðr, the main plot of the saga concerns

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1339 words

Citation: Jakobsson, Ármann. "Hrafnkels saga Freysgoða". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 24 August 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=41164, accessed 04 May 2024.]

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