Saga Thing

Krákumál is an autobiographical poem of the legendary Viking hero Ragnar Loðbrók, composed and spoken while Ragnar awaits his death in the snakepit of King Ælla.  We discuss the content and form of the poem, compare it to the Saga of Ragnar Loðbrók and His Sons, and examine the place of the History Channel's Vikings in the literary tradition of this legendary figure.  There's also some discussion of kennings, quirks of early modern scholarship, and the evolution of literary fads throughout history.  We also tackle the question "Unicorns: Fact or Fiction?" in a nearly serious manner.For more information, including links, translations of the relevant passages from the poem, and other cool stuff, visit our blog page: Saga Thing Podcast

In the second part of Saga Thing’s look at The Saga of Bjorn Champion of the Hitardal People, John and Andy discuss the merits of the text, argue over the size and ferocity of the dragon, investigate Thord’s ill-fated encounter with a stranded seal, and share some interesting tidbits from Icelandic law codes about pornographic sculptures and naughty poetry.  We also outlaw a rather deserving villain, choose our thingmen, and offer our thoughts on the saga’s overall quality.  It’s a full episode with a nice balance of humor, scholarship, and speculation.   If you’re interested in learning more about the Icelandic legal definitions of níð and ýki as they relate to Bjorn’s Saga, follow this link to Alison Finlay’s excellent article on the subject:Monstrous Allegations: An Exchange of ýki in Bjarnar saga Hítdælakappa.  

The title is a mouthful, but some might call this saga an underappreciated gem of medieval Iceland.  Like the other warrior poet's sagas, we’ve got a love triangle.  This time Bjorn, a dashing swashbuckler who sports the impressive title “Champion of the Hitardal People,” loses the girl to his conniving rival, Thord Kolbeinsson.  But this isn’t your average warrior poet saga.  Rather than a series of duels and fights, these men trade verbal barbs in some of the raunchiest poetry saga literature has to offer.  It isn’t all taunts and insulting verses, however.  This saga has some depth and strong characterizations that make it an instant favorite for the men of Saga Thing.

In this episode, John and Andy discuss the problem of Thorveig's curse, Kormak's efforts to woo Steingerd, and the excellence of Bersi the Dueller.  It's time to judge Kormak's Saga.  Who will be chosen as thingman?  Who will be outlawed? Will the Scottish giant get the recognition he deserves for his brief cameo?  Download the episode and find out now!

If you’re a fan of erotic poetry and dueling, then this is the saga for you.  Join us as we follow Kormak as he follows the lovely soled object of his affection, Steingerd.  Yes, I said soled and I meant it.  She’s got nice feet and Kormak is just into that sort of thing it seems.  Who are we to judge?  Along the way you’ll meet the scoundrel Narfi, a witch in a questionable relationship with a walrus, and a surprising visit from a Scottish giant.  Yes, this saga has a bit of everything.  So what are you waiting for.  It’s time for Kormak’s Saga!

Lusting for bloodshed?  Wondering about witticisms?  Will Hallfred be outlawed for seducing another man's wife or will he be chosen as thingman?  And will Andy stay awake through John's ramblings? Find out as we judge the Saga of Hallfred Troublesome-poet.

In this episode, we continue our journey through the Sagas of Warrior-Poets in The Saga of Hallfred Troublesome-Poet.  Though you've never heard of him, this court poet for 3 of Scandinavia's greatest rulers is actually quite famous.  As his nickname suggests Hallfred's poetry often lands him in hot water.  He's a suave lover, a witty poet, and a capable warrior.  We'll sample some of the poetry that made him famous, examine his difficult conversion to Christianity, and cheer as he gouges out the eyes of his enemies.  There's plenty of action and adventure here, with a fair amount of hot lovin' too.  But it's Hallfred's relationship with King Olaf Tryggvason that really makes this one special.  We hope you enjoy.

In this episode, John and Andy square off in a fight for the ages as Saga Thing examines the Icelandic art of dueling. The Duel at Skiringshal by Johannes Flintoe

As always, we count up the bodies and offer praise to the wittiest saga lines before getting down to the more difficult choices.  With no clear villain in the story, who will be outlawed?  Would either Gunnlaug or Hrafn make a good thingman?  There's one clear gem of a thingman in this saga, but John's choosing first.  What happens when Andy doesn't get his way? Find out in the Judgment section for The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue.           The Parting of Gunnlaug and Helga by Charles Fairfax Murray

Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue is a talented warrior-poet torn between his love for Helga the Fair and his quest for fame and fortune in the courts of Northern Europe.  Helga's father, Thorstein, gives him 3 years to travel and make a name for himself before his claim on Helga is forfeit.  Things get complicated when a rival for Helga's hand emerges in Hrafn the Skald, a court poet eager to get the best of Gunnlaug.  Will Gunnlaug win the hand of his fair maiden, or will hearts be broken?  Join us as we discuss one of saga literature's most successful romances, The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue.  Along the way, you'll learn about this fascinating sub-genre of the Sagas of the Icelanders, the harsh reality behind exposing newborns to the elements, and why a King of Norway would hide in a pigsty. If you like what you hear, pick up a copy of this great volume and enjoy The Sagas of the Warrior Poets

This time out, we've got the bitterly funny Bandamanna Saga, a much-beloved saga set in the mid-11th century and centered around the corruption of Icelandic law by the rich and powerful chieftains of that later age. The saga pits old money against the nouveau riche against a backdrop of legal wrangling and murder. Can Ofeig Skiðason and his estranged son Odd Ofeigsson put aside their differences in time to thwart the combined forces of eight of the most powerful men in Iceland? What's Ospak Glumsson (grandson and namesake of the notorious outlaw king of Eyrbyggja saga) doing in this saga? Why do Thorarin of Laugardal's servant laugh at him behind his back? And was there a second bowman hidden in a grassy knoll as Hermund Illugason's band of men rode by? Learn the answers to these questions and prepare your own judgments as you enjoy Bandamanna saga--the saga of the Confederates!

In our first ever Saga Brief, we explore the legendary Viking torture ritual known as the blood-eagle.  It's a brilliantly violent practice with a complicated, but fascinating textual history.  In short, it's perfect for the boys of Saga Thing.  Whether the blood-eagle is a historical method of ritual torture and execution or merely a literary motif designed to thrill and frighten, this is some pretty horrific stuff. 

In this special episode, we take a break from the family sagas of medieval Iceland and look forward to the second season of History Channel’s Vikings by delving into the medieval sagas and legends behind the show.  Discussion centers on The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok and his Sons, but Saxo Grammaticus’ Gesta Danorum, the Krákumál, and The Saga of Ragnar’s Sons are referenced here as well.  There’s a bit of history, a bit of myth, and a few laughs to be had along the way.  If you’re unfamiliar with the show, maybe this episode will entice you to give Vikings a try.  You can check out the first season at http://www.history.com/shows/vikings.  If you’re not a fan of the show (for shame), then listen anyway. This is a podcast about Ragnar Lothbrok, his family, and the legends surrounding their exploits in medieval Europe.  We hope you enjoy.

In this episode, meet the despicable and conniving Hen-Thorir, an unpopular businessman whose shameless lust for status and respect leads to a high stakes feud that consumes the Borgafjord district of West Iceland.  Loosely based on historical events, this is an instant classic noted for its brilliant acts of deception and social maneuvering. Through it's cleverly drawn characters and wonderfully plotted narrative, Hen-Thorir's Saga contrasts the noble with the ignoble, offering us a fascinating and entertaining glimpse into the heart of medieval Iceland's exploration of good vs. bad leadership.  Things get pretty complicated as nearly every big name in Borgafjord is drawn into the conflict.  Though few of them actually have a personal stake in the origin of the conflict, there is much to be gained for those who choose the right side.  For those who choose poorly, things rarely turn out well.  Game of Thrones fans should enjoy this one.  

It's time to judge Gisli's Saga. Join John and Andy on a tour through the saga's best bloodshed, body count, nicknames, and notable witticisms.  The titular character of Eirik's the Red's Saga was outlawed last time, will it happen again to Gisli?  Or will Andy defend him against the charges of murder and claim him as thingman? Find out in this episode of Saga Thing. Plus, it's your last chance to hear John's impression of Gisli Wayne.  How can you pass that up?

The tragic story of the outlaw Gisli Sursson, whose profound sense of honor forces him into violent action.  Whereas most Icelanders who receive the penalty of outlawry flee the land and seek their fortune abroad, Gisli refuses to leave his wife, Aud, behind to fend for herself.  Unfailingly devoted to his wife, Gisli slips through the fingers of the bounty hunters Bork the Stout, Eyolf, and Helgi the Spy time and time again.  Join us as we review one of Icelandic literature's most endearing and heroic characters as we call Gisli's Saga to the Thing. Gisli Sursson's Saga and The Saga of the People of Eyri (Penguin Classics)

It’s time to strike out for the west in the latest installment of Saga Thing. Join us as we sail through stormy and unpredictable seas in the Saga of Eirik the Red! The Vinland Sagas: The Norse Discovery of America: “Graenlendinga Saga” and “Eirik’s Saga” (Classics) The first of the two so-called Vínland sagas to be reviewed, Eiriks saga offers up a story that’s part travelogue, part bloodbath, and part confusing as heck. In this episode, we’ll learn all about Eirik the Red’s bad habit of killing almost everyone he meets, his son Leif’s discovery of Vínland through the magic of pure navigational incompetence, the volatile natives of this dangerous new land, and another round of hauntings (much to Andy’s delight). Will Eirik ever meet a nice neighborhood and settle down (without killing anyone who lives there)? Why does a Greenland seeress need such fancy seat-cushions? Is that a Uniped hopping through the Vínland woods? And just whereare Helluland and Markland, anyway?

Who will win Best Bloodshed?How many bodies hit the floor?Who will win the award for best nickname?Who will be banished from Iceland forever?Will Andy get to honor his hero Snorri by choosing him as thingman?What do we really think of Eyrbyggja Saga? Find out in the latest installment of Saga Thing!

In Episode 3a, John and Andy discuss the difficulties of trying to cover Eyrbyggja Saga in one episode…which they then totally fail to do successfully.  So we present the first of a two-part episode! Never fear, there’s plenty here to enjoy.  You’ll meet Snorri the goði and his rival Arnkel Thorolfsson.   Listen as they battle for control of Snæfellsnes Peninsula.  This is a tale of fortunes and misfortunes, sweeping conflicts between huge kin-groups, the rise and fall of chieftains, and the little people that get swept up in the mess.  But it also features a steamy love affair, a dispute over fine linens, and the exploits of a spectral seal.  Don’t miss a moment!!! Eyrbyggja Saga (Penguin Classics)

Our grand quest to place the sagas of the Icelanders on trial begins with an acknowledged classic–the relatively brief (but totally epic) Hrafnkels saga Freysgoði. The story of a harsh chieftain who falls from power and rises again, the men who band together against him, and the horse at the center of it all,Hrafnkels saga offers a listener-friendly introduction to the complex and blood-drenched world of the Icelandic sagas. And it comes with torture!  Hrafnkel’s Saga and Other Icelandic Stories (Penguin Classics) But is that enough to earn it a top score from John and Andy, or will the saga be judged harshly for its lack of scope and poor treatment of animals? Find out now!