Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.2007, Blaðsíða 124

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4 CURRENT STATE OF RESEARCH
in Hkr I are described again in Hkr II, and where people named in
Hkr I are presented as unknown in Hkr II (SigurSur Nordal 1913,
pp. 192—93). One such repetition can be found in HkrFJII: 107, where
the relationship between Olåfr Tryggvason and Gizurr the White is
explained. This can also be found in HkrFJ I: 403, but here Nordal
points out a divergence between the two versions. In OH we are told
that Eirikr bjobaskalli is son of Vikinga-Kåri, while according to OT he
is son of Sigurdr and grandson of Kari. Nordal argued that the genea-
logy in OT was more correct and represented Snorri’s later viewpoint.
Nordal took this to show that Snorri did not write HkrOH in direct
continuation of OT but inserted his own earlier saga of St Olåfr (SOH)
in a slightly revised version. He explained Snorri’s failure to correct
the inconsistencies with regard to Hkr I as the understandable result
of forgetfulness (Nordal 1914: 192—193). It is evident that not even
Nordal imagined that Snorri wrote OH afresh for Hkr. From here it is
only a short step to the view that the joining and revision took place at
a later point in time. It would also be easier to explain the repetitions
and divergences between Hkr I and Hkr II if the parts were joined and
revised by someone other than the author.
If Hkr did not originally contain OH it is easier to understand the
clear threefold division of the work and why this threefold division
has affected transmission to such an extent that no two manuscripts
contain the same redaction in full. There is also support for this view
in the differences between versions of Hkr III. Here I wish to draw
attention to the treatment of Olåfr’s miracles.
In SOH a collection of miracles of St Olåfr is placed at the end of
the saga. One is found in SOHJH ch. 246, then there are several in
a continuous sequence from ch. 265 to ch. 278 (see table 4.1 p. 98).54
These miracles are said to have taken place after Olåfr’s death. The
54 The chapters contain:
246 On the sword Hneitir;