Skáldskaparmál - 01.01.1994, Síða 124

122
Marianne Kalinke
geographical and temporal setting, the author has produced a traditional bridal-
quest tale with a traditional conflict, and this concludes satisfactorily with the
abduction of the bride. In the main narrative, however, the quest for the bride is
obstructed by a conflict, the nature and resolution of which are unique in
bridal-quest romance.
Víglundar saga is bipartite, composed of a relatively simple prefatory bridal-
quest narrative concluding with the abduction of the bride, and a more intricate
main narrative, in which the bridal quest is complicated and obstructed by the
multiple impediments placed in the way of the suitor by the family members of
the sought-for bride and by rival suitors. The saga concludes with a multiple
wedding.
The development of the plot in Víglundar saga is quite simple, except for the
occasional interlace of the forestory and the narrative proper (the intercalation of
matter from the forestory in the narrative proper is indicated in the outline below
by means of indentation).
A. Prefatory narrative: “Þorgríms saga og Ólafar”
Earl Þórir has a beautiful daughter named Ólöf, who has many suitors
Earl Eiríkur has 3 sons: Sigmundur, Helgi, and Þorgrímur
Þorgrímur meets Ólöf and the two fall in love
Þorgrímur asks for her hand in marriage and is rejected
Ketill of Raumaríki woos Ólöf; her father accepts his suit, but she objects
Þorgrímur abducts the bride on the wedding day
Þorgrímur is outlawed and the lovers flee to Iceland
B. Main narrative: “Víglundar saga og Ketilríðar”
Þorgrímur and Ólöf marry and have 3 children: Víglundur, Trausti, and Helga
Hólmkell, Þorgrímur’s friend, is married to Þorbjörg; they have 3 children: Jökull,
Einar, and Ketilríður
Ketilríður is fostered by Þorgrímur and Ólöf
Ketilríður and Víglundur fa.ll in love; he wishes to marry her
Þorbjörg and her sons initiate a series of aggressive acts against Þorgrímur, Ólöf,
and their sons
Ketill of Raumaríki sends a man named Hákon to kill Þorgrímur
Þorbjörg maneuvers to have Ketilríður brought home
Hákon asks for Ketilríður in marriage but Hólmkell rejects him
In a battle, Víglundur and Trausti kill 3 of Hólmkell’s men
Hákon again asks for Ketilríður and now Hólmkell agrees; she objects
In a battle, Víglundur and Trausti kill Hákon, Einar, and Jökull
Víglundur and Trausti are outlawed
Ketill of Raumaríki sends his sons Sigurður and Gunnlaugur to kill
Þorgrímur
They spend the winter with Þorgrímur but do not kill him
Helgi, the brother of Þorgrímur, leaves Norway for Iceland