Áns saga bogsveigis
ABSTRACT This article argues that the Icelandic legendary saga Áns saga bogsveigis was written as a complementary Egils saga with an alternative outcome, one in which it is not the aggressive tyrant who wins, but the farmers. To achieve this, the author uses an option that Egill’s family...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Danish |
| Published: |
Scandinavian University Press
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Edda |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.idunn.no/edda/2018/02/ns_saga_bogsveigis |
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| _version_ | 1850166915990814720 |
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| author | Eldar Heide |
| author_facet | Eldar Heide |
| author_sort | Eldar Heide |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT
This article argues that the Icelandic legendary saga Áns
saga bogsveigis was written as a complementary Egils
saga with an alternative outcome, one in which it is not
the aggressive tyrant who wins, but the farmers. To achieve this,
the author uses an option that Egill’s family did not have, because
it was humiliating: The hero plays the wretched fool; consequently,
he is not taken seriously, and therefore he can build up power in
secret until he is able to defeat the king. At the same time, Áns
saga seems to be a twist on Þorsteins þáttr bǿjarmagns,
which seems to be a twist on the myth of Þórr’s visit to Útgarða-Loki.
In the myth, the superhumanly strong hero is unexpectedly humiliated,
because his opponent controls what he sees. In Þorsteins
þáttr, the hero turns the tables, because he controls
what his opponent sees. In Áns saga, the herculean
hero chooses to be humiliated, and this is why
he unexpectedly wins. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e54e4ac389bb438ea44af03cc4769d97 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0013-0818 1500-1989 |
| language | Danish |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Scandinavian University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Edda |
| spelling | doaj-art-e54e4ac389bb438ea44af03cc4769d972025-08-20T02:21:19ZdanScandinavian University PressEdda0013-08181500-19892018-01-0110514716110.18261/issn.1500-1989-2018-02-0518948693Áns saga bogsveigisEldar HeideABSTRACT This article argues that the Icelandic legendary saga Áns saga bogsveigis was written as a complementary Egils saga with an alternative outcome, one in which it is not the aggressive tyrant who wins, but the farmers. To achieve this, the author uses an option that Egill’s family did not have, because it was humiliating: The hero plays the wretched fool; consequently, he is not taken seriously, and therefore he can build up power in secret until he is able to defeat the king. At the same time, Áns saga seems to be a twist on Þorsteins þáttr bǿjarmagns, which seems to be a twist on the myth of Þórr’s visit to Útgarða-Loki. In the myth, the superhumanly strong hero is unexpectedly humiliated, because his opponent controls what he sees. In Þorsteins þáttr, the hero turns the tables, because he controls what his opponent sees. In Áns saga, the herculean hero chooses to be humiliated, and this is why he unexpectedly wins.https://www.idunn.no/edda/2018/02/ns_saga_bogsveigisÁns saga bogsveigisLegendary SagasSagas of IcelandersEgils SagaÞorsteins þáttr bǿjarmagnsOld Norse Mythology |
| spellingShingle | Eldar Heide Áns saga bogsveigis Edda Áns saga bogsveigis Legendary Sagas Sagas of Icelanders Egils Saga Þorsteins þáttr bǿjarmagns Old Norse Mythology |
| title | Áns saga bogsveigis |
| title_full | Áns saga bogsveigis |
| title_fullStr | Áns saga bogsveigis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Áns saga bogsveigis |
| title_short | Áns saga bogsveigis |
| title_sort | ans saga bogsveigis |
| topic | Áns saga bogsveigis Legendary Sagas Sagas of Icelanders Egils Saga Þorsteins þáttr bǿjarmagns Old Norse Mythology |
| url | https://www.idunn.no/edda/2018/02/ns_saga_bogsveigis |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT eldarheide anssagabogsveigis |