Nornagests þáttr or the Story of Norna-Gest is a legendary saga about the Norse hero Nornagestr, sometimes called Gestr, and here anglicized as Norna-Gest. Nornagests þáttr is as an episode of the Saga of Óláfr Tryggvason in the medieval Icelandic manuscript Flateyjarbók.[1]
The Death of Nornagest Gunnar Vidar ForssellDie Nornen Johannes Gehrts (1889)
Norna-Gest is the son of a Danish man named Thord Thingbiter, who once dwelt on the estate of Grøning in Denmark. As he relates in the tale, when he was born, three Norns arrived and foretold the child's destiny. Two of them gave him good gifts. However Skuld, the youngest of the Norns, deeming that the two others made rather light of her, determined to render void their promises of good fortune for the child. So she prophesied that his life was to last no longer than that of a candle standing lit beside the cradle. The eldest Norn (Urðr) instantly extinguished the flame and asked his mother to hide it well.
When Norna-Gest has grown up he becomes the care-taker of the candle and he is said to have lived for three-hundred years. He reports that he took part in the battles of Sigurd the Völsung, spent time with Ragnar Lodbrok's son Björn Ironside and his brothers, with Starkad, with the Swedish king Sigurd Hring, with King Erik at Uppsala,[n 1] with King Harald Fairhair and with King Hlodver in Germany.[n 2]
According to the tale, Norna-Gest visits the court of King Olaf Tryggvason at the time when Olaf is trying to convert the Norse to Christianity. In the third year of the reign of King Olaf, Norna-Gest comes into the presence of the king and asks to be admitted to his bodyguard. He is uncommonly tall and strong and somewhat stricken in years. After relating his life-story, Norna-Gest permits himself to be baptized at the king's desire, and lights the candle that the norn Skuld had prophesied about. In accordance with the prophecy, when the candle fails, Norna-Gest dies.
Analogues and adaptationsedit
The story of Nornagest and his candle has a counterpart in Greek mythology: the story of Meleager, who was prophesied to live only as long as a certain log was unburnt. The story is included in Ovid's Metamorphoses.
^Norse Mythology: Legends of Gods and Heroes (Peter A. Munch. New York: The American-Scandinavian Foundation. 1926) 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine
External linksedit
Norna-Gests þáttr in Old Norse
Nora Kershaw's 1921 Translation
Norna-Gest's Thattr in English Translation with Facing Old Norse Text
Entry in the Stories for All Time database, with a full list of manuscripts, editions, translations, and secondary literature.
Further readingedit
Joseph C. Harris and Thomas D. Hill, "Gestr's 'Prime Sign': Source and Signification in Norna-Gests þáttr", Arkiv för nordisk filologi, 104 (1989), 103-22
McDonald, Sheryl, "Pagan Past and Christian Future in Norna-Gests þáttr and Bárðar saga Snæfellsáss", Bulletin of International Medieval Research, 15-16 (2011), 164-78.
Uspenskij, Fjodor, "The Talk of the Tits: Some Notes on the Death of Sigurðr Fáfnisbani in Norna Gests þáttr", The Retrospective Methods Network (RMN) Newsletter, 5 (2012), 10–14.
April 10, 2024
norna, gests, þáttr, nornagests, þáttr, story, norna, gest, legendary, saga, about, norse, hero, nornagestr, sometimes, called, gestr, here, anglicized, norna, gest, nornagests, þáttr, episode, saga, Óláfr, tryggvason, medieval, icelandic, manuscript, flateyja. Nornagests thattr or the Story of Norna Gest is a legendary saga about the Norse hero Nornagestr sometimes called Gestr and here anglicized as Norna Gest Nornagests thattr is as an episode of the Saga of olafr Tryggvason in the medieval Icelandic manuscript Flateyjarbok 1 The Death of Nornagest Gunnar Vidar ForssellDie Nornen Johannes Gehrts 1889 Contents 1 Summary 2 Analogues and adaptations 3 Notes 4 References 5 External links 6 Further readingSummary editNorna Gest is the son of a Danish man named Thord Thingbiter who once dwelt on the estate of Groning in Denmark As he relates in the tale when he was born three Norns arrived and foretold the child s destiny Two of them gave him good gifts However Skuld the youngest of the Norns deeming that the two others made rather light of her determined to render void their promises of good fortune for the child So she prophesied that his life was to last no longer than that of a candle standing lit beside the cradle The eldest Norn Urdr instantly extinguished the flame and asked his mother to hide it well When Norna Gest has grown up he becomes the care taker of the candle and he is said to have lived for three hundred years He reports that he took part in the battles of Sigurd the Volsung spent time with Ragnar Lodbrok s son Bjorn Ironside and his brothers with Starkad with the Swedish king Sigurd Hring with King Erik at Uppsala n 1 with King Harald Fairhair and with King Hlodver in Germany n 2 According to the tale Norna Gest visits the court of King Olaf Tryggvason at the time when Olaf is trying to convert the Norse to Christianity In the third year of the reign of King Olaf Norna Gest comes into the presence of the king and asks to be admitted to his bodyguard He is uncommonly tall and strong and somewhat stricken in years After relating his life story Norna Gest permits himself to be baptized at the king s desire and lights the candle that the norn Skuld had prophesied about In accordance with the prophecy when the candle fails Norna Gest dies Analogues and adaptations editThe story of Nornagest and his candle has a counterpart in Greek mythology the story of Meleager who was prophesied to live only as long as a certain log was unburnt The story is included in Ovid s Metamorphoses Science fiction writer Poul Anderson incorporated the story of Nornagest in The Boat of a Million Years a collection of short stories about immortals Notes edit Eirikr at Uppsolum is almost a default name for the Swedish king It could refer to Erik Refilsson Erik Bjornsson Erik Anundsson or Eric the Victorious Hlodver of Germany probably refers either to Louis the German or Louis II Holy Roman Emperor References edit Norse Mythology Legends of Gods and Heroes Peter A Munch New York The American Scandinavian Foundation 1926 Archived 2011 07 14 at the Wayback MachineExternal links editNorna Gests thattr in Old Norse Nora Kershaw s 1921 Translation Norna Gest s Thattr in English Translation with Facing Old Norse Text Entry in the Stories for All Time database with a full list of manuscripts editions translations and secondary literature Further reading editJoseph C Harris and Thomas D Hill Gestr s Prime Sign Source and Signification in Norna Gests thattr Arkiv for nordisk filologi 104 1989 103 22 McDonald Sheryl Pagan Past and Christian Future in Norna Gests thattr and Bardar saga Snaefellsass Bulletin of International Medieval Research 15 16 2011 164 78 Uspenskij Fjodor The Talk of the Tits Some Notes on the Death of Sigurdr Fafnisbani in Norna Gests thattr The Retrospective Methods Network RMN Newsletter 5 2012 10 14 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Norna Gests thattr amp oldid 1156404113, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
