Studia Islandica - 01.06.1956, Page 22

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was shown by S. Nordal and E. V. Gordon any histori-
cal basis for the existence of some of the most important
personages is entirely lacking.
The author even goes to the extreme of introducing
the spurious Þorsteinssynir, Þorgeirr and Þorkell, as im-
portant speakers who sometimes express themselves in
lengthy sentences.
In all sixteen periods of 49 or more syllables occur in
direct speech. The two great opponents, Hrafnkell and
Sámr, speak three of them each, Þorkell three, Þorgeirr
five, and a woman two.
Hrafnkell, in ch. 4, forbids his servant boy Einarr to
mount his horse Freyfaxi (50 syllables, 35 words). This
sentence contains the nucleus for the unfolding of the
whole story. In ch. 7 he offers Þorbjprn, Einarr’s poor
father, a generous compensation for the loss of his son,
killed by him (49 syll., 36 words). The refusal of this
offer sets the conflict in motion. In ch. 19 he tells
Sámr, finally overcome by him, his decision for the
future.
Sámr addresses to Þorbjom, who is overwhelmed by
distress, reproachful words (51 syll., 34 words); in ch.
9, in a long dialogue between Þorkell and Sámr, the
latter utters the hope to bring the strife with Hrafnkell
to a successful end with Þorkell’s help (51 syll., 28
words); and in ch. 13 it is he, the first victor in the
conflict, who humiliates the chieftain Hrafnkell (54
syll., 38 words).
The brothers Þorkell and Þorgeirr, in ch. 10, are en-
gaged in a dialogue, in which Þorkell tries to persuade
the other to afford his help to the poor victims of
Hrafnkell’s pride. Þorkell speaks two sentences (49 syll.,
30 words, and 83 syll., 56 words), Þorgeirr two (50 syll.,
36 words and 55 syll., 39 words). Just before, in ch. 9,
Þorkell has unfolded his shrewd scheme to Sámr and