The Parting Gifts Scene in Egils Saga, Chapter 61

BARREIRO, SANTIAGO

Aarhus

Congreso; 15th International Saga Conference: Sagas and The Uses of The Past; 2012

Aarhus Universitet

In chapter sixty one of Egils saga, Egill and his friend Arinbjörn exchange gifts beforeparting ways in England. This scene is placed immediately after one of the climaxes ofthe saga, when the main character is pardoned by his enemy, King Eírikr, due to bothhis own skill as a poet and the intercession of Arinbjörn on his behalf. As the latter ispart of the royal retinue, these scenes can be understood as illustrating a tension betweendivided loyalties towards lord and friend. In this context, this scene of parting gifts ispresented in great detail, in contrast with the formulaic, stereotypical shape parting giftsscenes usually have in the sagas. In this case the gifts exchanged (two rings and a sword)are given a history by the donors at the moment of the exchange. This exchange displaysmaterially a memory of the bonds between the ancestors of both characters. Moreover,it also provides a hint on the stance the saga takes on the relative priority of loyalties.This paper examines this exchange under the light of anthropological views on gifts asbearers of history, in order to discuss its role to produce, reproduce or present bonds ofalliance and friendship between men. (N. del A. : La versión online de las actas solo incluye un Abstract extenso. Adjunto el texto completo de la versión impresa)