Viking Myths and Sagas: Retold from Ancient Norse Texts

287 Pages·2015·1.21 MB·English

by  Rosalind Kerven

‘I met a wild woman walking down the road. Her grey hair was grimy
and unkempt, coiling round her shoulders like winter snakes, her eyes
unnaturally bright.She hailed me and began to speak in a clear,
compelling voice. This is what she told me...’
The stories of the Viking Age rank amongst the world’s great narrative
traditions. Preserved orally through countless generations and eventually
transcribed in the 13th Century, their vividly imagined characters and high
dramas are richly embroidered with dark humour and wisdom.
This definitive and unique collection presents thirty-four of the most
important Viking myths, heroic legends and historical sagas, many
previously known only within the academic world. Gods, giantesses,
dwarfs, valkyries, ghosts and dragons mingle with real life queens, kings,
slaves, lovers and outlaws. Visions of the mythical creation and end of the
world contrast with a graphic account of the Vikings’ discovery of North
America. It includes tales of the cursed ring that inspired Tolkien, and the
story behind Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Written by a master storyteller in consultation with leading scholars, the
book also contains proverbs, spells, poems, riddles, detailed notes and a
comprehensive glossary, offering a unique insight into Viking Age culture
and beliefs.
ROSALIND KERVEN has been collecting and retelling world myths and legends for thirty years.
She has written over sixty books for publishers such as the British Museum, British Library,
Cambridge University Press and Dorling Kindersley, highly acclaimed by reviewers and translated
into numerous languages.
Cover image:
Viking Age rune-stone
repainted in its original colours.
Historiska museet, Stockholm.
Photo © Rosalind Kerven
‘We are very curious to see mighty folk
about whom great tales are told.’
– The Saga of Gisli the Outlaw
VIKING
MYTHS & SAGAS
Retold from ancient Norse texts
Rosalind Kerven
First published in the UK by Talking Stone 2015
Text copyright © Rosalind Kerven 2015
Talking Stone
Swindonburn Cottage West, Sharperton
Morpeth, Northumberland, NE65 7AP
The moral right of Rosalind Kerven
to be identified as the author of this work
has been asserted in accordance with the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the written permission of the
publisher.
ISBN: 9781783016334
Names in SMALL CAPITALS refer to stories in this book.
Words and names in bold can be found in the Glossary.
The original versions of these stories were written in Old Norse, which contains
a number of unfamiliar letters. For ease of reading, this book follows the
conventions of modern scholars in anglicising the Old Norse names.
The book includes a number of quotes from Old Norse texts. Sometimes these
are based on more than one translation, and are slightly adapted to improve
clarity whilst still maintaining the original content and meaning.
For Richard
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank the following for their invaluable help and advice:
Professor Diana Whaley, Newcastle University, who generously gave her time to
advise on the Glossary, Introduction and skaldic verse. Professor Gisli
Sigurdsson, University of Iceland, who comprehensively answered numerous
questions, especially about the sagas. Dr Judy Quinn, Cambridge University, for
clarifying various aspects of Eddic poetry and mythology. Dr Terry Gunnell,
University of Iceland, for sending me his fascinating articles on Viking religion
and the performance of Eddic poetry. Professor John McKinnell, Durham
University, for his advice on dating the Eddic poems. I am also immensely
grateful to all the scholars from the early 20th Century to the present day who
have translated the Old Norse texts on which my retellings are based.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements
Viking People and their Stories
GODS, GODDESSES, GIANTESSES, GIANTS & DWARFS
The Origin of the Stories: Magic Mead
from The Prose Edda
In the Beginning
from The Prose Edda
+ The Poetic Edda (Voluspa, Vafthrudnismal)
The Dwarfs’ Treasures
from The Prose Edda
The Theft of Thor’s Hammer
from The Poetic Edda (Thrymskvida)
How Odin won the Runes
from The Poetic Edda (Havamal)
Fishing up the World Serpent
from The Prose Edda + The Poetic Edda (Hymiskvida)
The Eight-Legged Horse
from The Prose Edda
The Mighty Wolf
from The Prose Edda
The Apples of Youth
from The Prose Edda
A Journey Through Giantland
from The Prose Edda
The Death of Baldr
from The Prose Edda
Ragnarok: The Doom of the Gods
from The Prose Edda
+ The Poetic Edda (Voluspa, Vafthrudnismal)
Kennings: the Poets’ Images
from The Prose Edda
THE CURSE OF ANDVARI’S RING
Sigurd the Dragon Slayer
from The Poetic Edda (various poems),
Prose Edda + Volsunga Saga
Cruel and Sweet is a Woman’s Revenge
from The Poetic Edda (various poems),
Prose Edda + Volsunga Saga
Riddles
from Hervarar Saga ok Heidreks
NOBLES, FARMERS, SLAVES & VILLAINS
In Praise of Slaves, Peasants and Nobles
from The Poetic Edda (Rigsthula)
King Geirrod the Magnificent
from The Poetic Edda (Grimnismal)
Amleth
from Gesta Danorum
A Slave Woman’s Story
from Laxdaela Saga
Aud the Deep-Minded
from Landnamabok, Laxdaela Saga + Eirik’s Saga
Njal the Peacemaker and his Angry Sons