Laxdӕla saga Table of Contents 1
The Saga of the People of
Laxardal
About
The saga spreads over two centuries, beginning in the late 9 th century and ending in the late 11 th
century. It is centred in wet Iceland, although other countries are visited as well. The saga focusses
on Gudrun Osvifsdottir. The Saga of the People of Laxardal is a name given to about 40 medieval
prose narratives written by anonymous authors. The oldest manuscript fragments date from the 13 th
century, probably written down from an oral tradition. They are works of art: there are narrative
principles, the structure mirrors patterns from the Bible, hagiography, fairy tales and old epic poems.
The Saga of the People of Laxardal is one of the very few sagas with a female protagonist, with the
main strife resulting not from a love triangle, but from between the two lovers themselves.
This is a chapter-by-chapter summary of the Saga, with an informative introduction. It also contains
a link to a complete family tree of (almost) 1 every character in the saga.
Contents
About.....................................................................................................................................................1
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
clan....................................................................................................................................................2
pagan vs christian..............................................................................................................................2
narration............................................................................................................................................3
characters..........................................................................................................................................3
CHARACTERS WHO SERVE CHRISTIANITY.......................................................................................4
conclusion..........................................................................................................................................4
The Saga of the People of Laxardal........................................................................................................5
Bolli Bollason’s Tale.............................................................................................................................28
Appendix – Family Tree from the Book................................................................................................32
1
There are only a handful of characters who are not related to the rest of the cast in some way or another, but
those are exceptions. Bc the family tree contains 297 people after I finished summarising the Saga.
,Laxdӕla saga Introduction 2
Introduction
The account of Unn at the opening of the Saga mirrors that of the Old Testament patriarchs, but in a
way that reflects the foundation of the Saga’s gender-role reversal: the role of the patriarch is
embodied by a woman. However, Unn chooses a male heir, after which no woman gains the same
social position and power.
clan
The core of medieval Icelandic society was the clan, together with the extended family and the
estate. When these were under threat or attack, there were two options: prosecution or blood feud.
The Saga shows how blood feuds tend to backfire. The Saga shows conflict within the family for
generations, finally resolving in the character of Bolli Bollason, who is descended from Gudrun and
marries a descendant of Olaf, uniting the conflicting powers.
pagan vs christian
The Saga also emphasises the meeting of paganism and Christianity. The dispute between the two
religions drives the plot forward. Certain characters are honoured because they predict the spread
of Christianity or advance it in some manner. The events are meticulously prepared for and
underpinned: Gudrun and Kjartan become Christianity’s foremost champions and will be united in
the next world. Kjartan’s description is similar to that of Christ as the knight.
The structure of the Saga is highly complex. The genesis spans six chapters, like the creation of the
earth took six days. The six generations of Dalesmen can be seen to follow the old pattern of dividing
the story of the world into ‘seven ages’, the last one being marked by Christ’s return and the
apocalypse. Gudrun’s life is split into periods recollecting the Christian idea of the ‘Five Monarchies’,
four earthly kingdoms rising and falling, after which Christ’s kingdom finally replaces the last.
,Laxdӕla saga Introduction 3
Gudrun’s dreams and their interpretations are in chapter 33 of The Modruvellir Book, a holy
number.2 Kjartan being baptised in chapter 40 is also significant. 3 The medieval concept of time as a
continuous spiral going upwards4 is also reflected in the Saga. Alongside the spiral of time, the
recurrence of events create parallels, contrasts and escalations. The conflict between paganism and
Christianity was considered the Saga’s principal theme.
narration
The narration in the Sagas of Icelanders is usually unobtrusive observers and listeners, keeping their
judgement to themselves. The narrator of The Saga of the People or Laxardal relies on external
description, but he also looks into the minds of the characters. He compares and contrasts through
time, explains why he mentions certain things, and he sometimes adds some irony when he uses
high-flown vocab to describe characters who turn out to be over-inflated. The narrative is extremely
visual, many events are described from various point of views. There are some occasional direct
references to other sources, and sometimes events are known from other sources not directly
mentioned. The story, in certain points, conflicts with Njal’s Saga. It is a verbose, detailed saga,
echoing secular and romance literature’s vocab.
characters
The descriptions of the characters are more grandiose than other Icelandic sagas. The powerful
women in the story often recall heroines of epic poetry, like Brgynhild and Gudrun Gjukadottir. 5 The
women are gorgeous, smart, desirable and work hard, the men are kind, hot, wealthy and powerful.
2
Since Jesus lived to be 33 years old.
3
4 gospels, 10 commandments: 4x10=40.
4
‘History never repeats itself, but it rhymes’ – Mark Twain (?)
5
For my summary of The Poetic Edda, see here.
, Laxdӕla saga Introduction 4
However, whilst the narrator sings high praises of the characters, they often do not live up to this
expectation, especially the men.6 Whilst Kjartan is described to be ‘humble’, he is actually super
proud.
The Saga is essentially a Christian work, although some7 are more closely linked to Christianity than
others. The acts of Kjartan and Gudrun after becoming Christian serve to contrast their former un-
Christian acts. If the saga was composed or related in a convent, the author and audience viewed the
characters as weak and comic.
CHARACTERS WHO SERVE CHRISTIANITY
Gest Oddleifsson: Prophet, foretells Christianity, turns against sorcery. 8
Gudrun Osvifsdottir: First woman in Iceland to become a nun, has a church built.
Kjartan Olafsson: Converts to Christianity voluntarily, the first Icelander to observe lent.
Olaf Hoskuldsson: Gets rid of a ghost and kills sorcerers, tries to be a peacemaker.
Herdis Bolladottir: Has prophetic dreams, help stamp out paganism.
If we are to see the characters in a Christian light, it quickly becomes clear that they lack Christian
virtues and behaviour, and it is Christianity that divides the two lovers. The Catholic values also dull
some of the saga’s radical descriptions of women, the acts of men often cast a shadow over the
women. The women who assume the role of men are favoured, but the men’s Christian ‘model
behaviour’ excuses their unfair acts towards women.
conclusion
The Saga was written in the 13th century, the bloodiest period in Icelandic history. It reflects this
community of conflict, bribery, law-loopholes and murder. The author clearly dislikes bloodshed.
Gudrun’s marriages have her climb the social ladder each time, and once she chooses the bridal bed
of God, the highest goal is reached.
6
What else is new.
7
Gest as Prophet, Kjartan as Christ, Gudrun as nun
8
