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narrated in detail (such as Þiðrandi’s death). There then follows the climax
of the saga: the account of the conversion. At this point, time in the narra-
tive moves relatively slowly with a number of episodes told in detail close
together chronologically. There then follows the aftermath, telling of sub-
sequent generations with time moving ever faster in the narrative the fur-
ther one moves from the centre of the saga.30
In this saga there is a general consistency of detail. For example we can
build up a rough picture of Hallr’s family tree with only a few discrepan-
cies. In many areas the details fit perfectly, such as the mention in Njáls
saga (ÍF XII, 239) of Þiðrandi, þann er sagt er, at dísir vægi (‘Þiðrandi, of
whom it is said, that the dísir killed’) or King Magnús’s prophecy in
Morkinskinna pointing forward to the death of Þorsteinn’s son and the
success of his great-grandson. There is an even greater consistency of char-
acterisation. Hallr is proud, strong, generous and kind; and an association
with Christianity runs throughout. There is, however, another side to his
character hinted at; he is perhaps ruthless, certainly a realist and pragma-
tist. His sons are similar but do not match their father’s patience (for
example Þorsteinn’s eventual killing of Þórhaddr, Þiðrandi not heeding the
advice of Þórhallr, Ljótr wanting to offer aid to Flosi at the Alþingi rather
than listen to his father).
As well as this consistency regarding detail there is also a tremendous
consistency of themes, throughout our assembled saga. Christianity fea-
tures prominently in one form or another throughout the immanent saga;
such as in the events prefiguring the conversion, the conversion itself and
in the numerous bishops among Hallr’s prominent descendants. Fate and
the protection of some unseen force guarding and supporting the family is
another theme throughout. This is first brought to the fore in Rǫgnvaldr’s
prophecy regarding the fylgjur and their association with Iceland. One
might suppose these fylgjur assist in the difficult years following the settle-
ment and aid in building the family’s powerbase that we read about in
Landnámabók. The events at the dísablót involve a change of the old guard-
ians for new ones, however the theme of supernatural and theological
30 Terms like ‘climax’ and ‘aftermath’ are inevitably indebted to Theodore Andersson’s (1967)
study of saga structure The Icelandic Family Saga, An Analytic Reading, though one would
scarcely describe Hallr’s story as a feud narrative.
SÍÐU-HALLS SAGA OK SONA HANS