The Relation of the Hrólfs Saga Kraka and the Bjarkarímur to Beowulf: A Contribution To The History Of Saga Development In England And The; Scandinavian CountriesOlson, Oscar Ludvig
History
The Relation of the Hrólfs Saga Kraka and the Bjarkarímur to Beowulf: A Contribution To The History Of Saga Development In England And The; Scandinavian Countries
If the foregoing is substantially correct, much in the Hroar-Helgi story
is accounted for, besides some striking differences between the two
versions. But it is possible to account for more. We have seen how the
Siward story exerted marked influence on the story about Bothvar Bjarki;
hence, we might expect it to have exerted some influence on the
Hroar-Helgi story, which is also a part of the _Hrólfssaga_. And this it
has done. Siward was historically closely associated with the events of
the Macbeth story; but the Macbeth story is of a type that, in one
noteworthy particular at least, resembles the Hroar-Helgi story more
than do any of the stories thus far considered, and that is in the fact
that Duncan has two sons, who flee when their father is murdered. In the
Macbeth story, as in the Hamlet story, it may be said that we have not,
under a strict interpretation of the term, an instance of the
"exile-return" type of story; but Hamlet goes to England and immediately
upon his return avenges his father's murder, and, still nearer the type,
Malcolm and Donaldbane flee and Malcolm returns and avenges his father's
murder. But the matter of type is, in this connection, unessential.
There is no doubt that the Hamlet story exerted an influence on the
Hroar-Helgi story, nor can there be any doubt that the Macbeth story did
the same.
First, attention is called to the fact that in the _Hrólfssaga_ Siward
himself is retained in the story under the name of Sævil.[150] In Saxo's
version of the story about Hroar and Helgi, he is called Siward, but
there his proper relationship to the other characters is obscured.
Siward was related to Duncan by marriage, some versions, Holinshed's for
instance, having it that Duncan was married to Siward's daughter;[151]
similarly, Sævil was married to Halfdan's daughter. Siward aided
Duncan's sons (Donaldbane, however, not being present to take part in
the expedition against Macbeth); similarly, Sævil aided Halfdan's sons,
not by an armed expedition against Frothi, the usurper, but proceeding
against him in such manner as the plot of the story permits. It is said
of Donaldbane, that he fled to Ireland "where he was tenderlie cherished
by the king of that land";[152] similarly, Hroar went to Northumberland,
where he received a hearty welcome and later married King Northri's
daughter, Ögn.[153] Siward was first an earl in Denmark; similarly,
Sævil was an earl in Denmark. Sævil did not, however, become Earl of
Northumberland, as Siward did; but Hroar took his place, so to speak, in
this respect, and, as Siward had done, married the earl's (king's)
daughter[154] and became King of Northumberland.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account