Gunnars Saga Keldugnúpsfífls

Gunnars saga Keldugnúpsfífls ( ) is one of the sagas of Icelanders. It is a late saga composed in the 15th or 16th century. It survives in 17th-century manuscripts. The saga takes place in Norway and Iceland in the latter part of the 9th century. It primarily focuses on the life of Gunnar, who is initially considered a fool from Keldugnúpur, and his brother Helgi. The narrative follows Gunnar's transformation into a skilled warrior and his encounters with various adversaries, including local chieftains and formidable trolls.

Synopsis

The saga begins by introducing several key figures in Iceland. Þorgrímur, a chieftain in Hörgsland, and his sons Grímur and Jökull are depicted as overbearing and unjust. His daughter, Helga, is portrayed as beautiful and courteous. Þorbjörn, a farmer from Keldugnúpur, has two sons: Helgi, who is respectable, and Gunnar, who is initially seen as a lazy fool due to his habit of lingering in the fire-hall. The saga also introduces Geir and his daughter Ingibjörg, and the sorceress Þórdís of Foss, sister of Örn of Vatnsend.

The core conflict begins when Grímur and Jökull, who are powerful at local games, injure and kill many people. Gunnar and Helgi are initially reluctant to participate. When Helgi eventually does, he defeats Jökull in wrestling. Subsequently, Gunnar wrestles Þorgrímur's thrall, Svartur, who is also a formidable wrestler. Gunnar defeats Svartur by breaking his spine, causing significant animosity from Þorgrímur and his sons.

Fearing retaliation, Þorbjörn sends his sons to hide with his friend Þorgeir in Mörtunga. They hide in a cave, but their location is eventually revealed by Geir's thrall, Kolur, to Þorgrímur. Þorgrímur and his men attempt to capture Gunnar and Helgi but fail.

Later, Gunnar and Helgi return to Keldugnúpur. A ship arrives in Skaftárós captained by Bárður, who refuses to submit to Þorgrímur's demands. Gunnar and Helgi invite Bárður to stay with them, further escalating tensions with Þorgrímur.

Þorgrímur's sons, Grímur and Jökull, ambush Gunnar on a heath. Gunnar, armed only with an axe, fights valiantly, killing thirteen of their fifteen men before Helgi and Þorbjörn arrive, causing the remaining attackers to flee. Gunnar sustains injuries but recovers quickly.

As spring approaches, Gunnar, without telling his family, visits Hörgsland. There, he confronts and kills both Jökull and Grímur. After this, he secretly meets with Helga, Þorgrímur's daughter, with whom he has a pre-existing understanding. They reaffirm their vows of mutual fidelity before Gunnar returns to his ship. Þorgrímur eventually discovers his sons' deaths and dies from grief.

Gunnar and Helgi then embark on a journey with Bárður. Their ship encounters a great fog, and a lot is cast to determine who should climb the mast. Gunnar is chosen, and upon reaching the masthead, the fog lifts, revealing land. They sail into a fjord called Skuggi, in a land of glaciers, and establish a settlement.

During an expedition onto the glaciers, Gunnar separates from his companions. He encounters and kills a large bear. Later, he encounters two troll-women, Fála and Gála, who attempt to take his prey. Gunnar defeats them, killing Gála and sparing Fála's life after she pledges assistance and offers him gold. Fála guides Gunnar to her father's cave, a troll named Skrámur (or Skram), and his wife Skráma, who are also trolls. Gunnar initially declines to go, but later returns alone to a different troll-cave where he kills two troll-children and then the old troll-man and his wife, Skrámur and Skráma. During this fight, Gunnar is severely wounded but is aided by Fála, who appears with a sword named Þrumur. Fála then takes Gunnar to her family's cave, where he is well-received. He spends the winter there, recovering and receiving good weapons from Skrámur, including the sword Fálunautur, a gift from Fála herself. He later returns to his companions, bringing back much treasure.

The following spring, Gunnar and Helgi sail to Norway, where they are hosted by Bárður. Haakon Jarl (''Håkon Sigurdsson'') rules Norway at this time. The Jarl, hearing of Gunnar's prowess, invites Bárður to a feast. Gunnar insists on accompanying Bárður. At the feast, the Jarl attempts to test Gunnar, inviting him to wrestle a "piltungur" (young man), who turns out to be a formidable ''blámaður'' (a dark-skinned, berserker-like figure). Gunnar defeats the ''blámaður'' by splitting him in two against a stone. The Jarl, angered, tries to seize Gunnar, but Bárður's men protect him. Bárður later mediates a reconciliation between Gunnar and the Jarl.

Gunnar and Helgi then embark on a Viking expedition. They sail to an island where they encounter a large fleet led by the Viking brothers Svartur and Jökull – the same names as Þorgrímur's sons in the Icelandic part of the saga. A fierce battle ensues. Gunnar, wielding Fálunautur, kills Jökull. Helgi, also using Fálunautur, then kills Svartur, splitting him lengthwise. Gunnar and Helgi secure a great amount of plunder and return to Norway.

Upon their return to Norway, Bárður once again welcomes them and helps them reconcile with Hákon Jarl. The Jarl, impressed by their deeds, accepts their gifts and makes them his men.

Gunnar and Helgi eventually request leave to return to Iceland. The Jarl grants their request and gives them valuable gifts. They sail back to Skaftárós, where they are joyfully reunited with Þorbjörn. Gunnar discovers that Þorgrímur, the chieftain of Hörgsland, has died of grief for his sons.

Gunnar, remembering his vows to Helga, goes to Hörgsland. Helga, who has inherited her father's estate, welcomes him warmly. Gunnar asks for her hand in marriage, and she readily accepts. Their wedding is celebrated with a large feast at Hörgsland. Gunnar establishes his household there and takes over the ''goðorð'' (chieftaincy) previously held by Þorgrímur, gaining a good reputation.

The saga then details Gunnar's continued conflicts. Örn, Þórdís's brother, nurses a grudge against Gunnar. Gunnar rides alone to Vatnsendi and fights Örn, killing him after a long and hard struggle. Þórdís, though sorrowful, later attempts to use sorcery against Gunnar, but it proves ineffective.

Helgi seeks to marry Ingibjörg, Geir's daughter. Gunnar and Helgi, accompanied by twelve men, ride to Geirland, and their proposal is accepted. The wedding is held at Geirland during winter nights and is a grand affair. Helgi and Ingibjörg settle at Keldugnúpur.

Finally, Gunnar seeks to make amends with Þórdís for the death of her brother, Örn. He offers her compensation, which she accepts, demanding three ''manngjöld'' ( blood money payments). They settle their differences, and peace is established. The saga concludes with Gunnar and Helgi living out their lives in peace, renowned men from whom a great lineage, the Keldugnúpingar, descended.

References

Other sources

*Vidar Hreinsson, ed. (1997) ''The Complete Sagas of Icelanders'' (Reykjavík: Leifur Eiriksson Publishing. translator: Sarah M. Anderson)

External links

Full text at the Icelandic Saga DatabaseFull text at heimskringla.no in Old Norse

Sagas of Icelanders

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