An Insular Marriage in Egils saga

BARREIRO, SANTIAGO

Kirkwall

Congreso; III St Magnus Conference; 2016

Centre for Nordic Studies - University of the Highlands and Islands

In this paper, we aim to understand the specific role played by insular spaces in a section of Egils saga. Such spaces appear prominently in the narrative about the events surrounding the marriage between Bjǫrn and Þóra (chs. 32-35). The episodes involve several actors beyond the married couple: The heads of three families play a prominent role in the story, as does the Norwegian king. The narrative begins in Norway, climaxes in three insular settings (Orkney, the Shetlands and Iceland) and finally returns to Norway. We will argue that the three insular settings appear as spaces of conflict and tension, while the mainland is contrastingly depicted as a place of order.