Hænsa-Þóris saga: Difference between revisions
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It tells the story of Hænsa-Þórir (Old Norse: Hœnsa-Þórir; Modern Icelandic: Hænsna-Þórir; ''{{linktext|hænsn}}'' means "a hen"), a poor and unpopular man who acquires wealth as a merchant and manages to buy |
It tells the story of Hænsa-Þórir (Old Norse: Hœnsa-Þórir; Modern Icelandic: Hænsna-Þórir; ''{{linktext|hænsn}}'' means "a hen"), a poor and unpopular man who acquires wealth as a merchant and manages to buy land. In the saga the upstart is compared negatively to his neighbours, who come from a more solid background. Eventually Hænsa-Þórir refuses to sell the neighbours hay for the winter. When they take the hay anyway, he burns them alive in their farmstead. A [[Feud|vendetta]] ensues in which Hænsa-Þórir is killed and beheaded. |
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==Themes== |
==Themes== |
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The saga highlights aspects of Icelandic culture, such as [[hospitable|hospitality]] to guests and travellers, (expected) generosity to |
The saga highlights aspects of Icelandic culture, such as [[hospitable|hospitality]] to guests and travellers, (expected) generosity to one's neighbours, and the need to gather support of a [[chieftain]] in order to obtain justice. Another theory states that ''Hænsa-Þóris saga'' was written in response to a law-change, originating from King [[Magnus VI of Norway]]. According to the new law, a farmer was obliged to sell his neighbours hay if they were in great need. If he refused to sell the hay, he had to pay a fine, and if he resisted with force, his neighbours could attack him in turn, without committing a crime. This was a novelty in traditional Icelandic [[jurisprudence]], and seems to have been unpopular. According to this theory, the saga was written as propaganda in favour of the new law.<ref>Björn Sigfússon (1962), "[http://m.timarit.is/view_page_init.jsp?pageId=5268943 Staða Hænsa-Þóris sögu í réttarþróun 13. aldar]", ''Saga'' III(3), pp. 345-370</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 02:55, 18 September 2017
Hænsa-Þóris saga (; Template:Lang-on; Template:Lang-is; "The Saga of Hen-Thorir") is one of the sagas of Icelanders.
Plot
It tells the story of Hænsa-Þórir (Old Norse: Hœnsa-Þórir; Modern Icelandic: Hænsna-Þórir; hænsn means "a hen"), a poor and unpopular man who acquires wealth as a merchant and manages to buy land. In the saga the upstart is compared negatively to his neighbours, who come from a more solid background. Eventually Hænsa-Þórir refuses to sell the neighbours hay for the winter. When they take the hay anyway, he burns them alive in their farmstead. A vendetta ensues in which Hænsa-Þórir is killed and beheaded.
Themes
The saga highlights aspects of Icelandic culture, such as hospitality to guests and travellers, (expected) generosity to one's neighbours, and the need to gather support of a chieftain in order to obtain justice. Another theory states that Hænsa-Þóris saga was written in response to a law-change, originating from King Magnus VI of Norway. According to the new law, a farmer was obliged to sell his neighbours hay if they were in great need. If he refused to sell the hay, he had to pay a fine, and if he resisted with force, his neighbours could attack him in turn, without committing a crime. This was a novelty in traditional Icelandic jurisprudence, and seems to have been unpopular. According to this theory, the saga was written as propaganda in favour of the new law.[1]
References
- ^ Björn Sigfússon (1962), "Staða Hænsa-Þóris sögu í réttarþróun 13. aldar", Saga III(3), pp. 345-370
External links
- Proverbs in Hœnsa-Þóris saga
- Original text and translation at the Icelandic Saga Database
- National and University Library of Iceland (2009). "AM 162 G fol". handrit.is. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
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