Saga Stories #2: Egils Saga

Join Dr Matthew Roby ( / matthewhroby ) on a blustery day in West Iceland, as he walks you through three tales from Egils saga: the story of Egill’s first poetic composition at his grandfather’s farm on Álftanes; the story of the deadly ball game between Egill and his father on Digranes, modern-day Borgarnes; and the story of Egill’s depression and poetic healing, following the death of his sons.
To watch, hear, or read more about the sagas, you can find Dr Matthew Roby at
Website: www.matthewroby.com.
Facebook: / matthewhroby
Twitter: / matthewhroby
Instagram: / matthewharoldroby
If you are struggling to understand the Icelandic names of people or places in these videos, don’t forget to turn on closed captioning.
The English translation of ‘Sonatorrek’ quoted in this video is by Bernard Scudder.

[@richardlandes3962]

Dr. Roby, I just wanted to thank you so much for enduring the obviously cold and heavy winds to bring us this beautiful and very moving saga of Egill's life and poetry. Your work and translation is very much appreciated!

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Thank you for your kind words. Yes, it was awfully cold that day. I went out and bought a hat immediately afterwards! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby

[@NobleKorhedron]

@@TheReykjavikGrapevine: Has anyone bothered to put out a decent English-language discussion of Egil's poetry? His poem to Eirik Bloodaxe(?) has always struck me. You know the one... "The warlord weaves his web of fear, each man receives his fated share. A blood-red sun's the warrior's shield; the eagle scans the battlefield."

[@katykircher7413]

Wow, Dr Roby, this series is amazing!! I studied Beowulf more than 40 years ago and remember the tutor in Old English speaking about his regular trips to Iceland. This series is so much more accessible because you show us the locations of the sagas, you explain them in modern English and you also teach us a smattering of Icelandic pronunciation (that I, for one, will never ever be able to copy!). This is much better than struggling through dusty tomes in Old English!! Thank you for taking the time and effort to teach this subject. You are a born teacher.

[@Sapherous]

I read about Egill's saga in a book of the sagas of icelanders in Reykjavik. This saga was one of my favorites... It's so cool to see the place where this took place. Love this series.

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Yes, Egils saga is one of my favourites too. He's such a fascinating, complicated protagonist. Thank you for your ongoing support and we hope you'll stick around for more Saga Stories in the future. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby

[@athenassigil5820]

For a small island in the north Atlantic Ocean, Iceland has made giant ripples in the sea of literature. Without the sagas no Lord of the Rings or any modern fantasy as we know it today. Tolkien was a philologist and lover of the Eddas and Sagas, by the way Egil's saga and Njal's are amongst my favorites. Great little video, thanks!

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Thanks for your interest. Yes, it's truly astonishing. The volume and artfulness of the saga corpus is especially interesting when we consider that the medieval population probably never rose above 40,000! Thanks for your interest and we hope you'll stay tuned for more coming soon. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby

[@adamclark6756]

Love this series. It all comes together well, the tales the scenery and the music.

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Thank you. We're so glad you're enjoying them. Thanks for your continued support and please stay tuned for more in the future. There's been a delay in releases recently, especially since the volcanic eruption overwhelmed the news here, but we should be releasing another one very soon! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby and the Reykjavík Grapevine team

[@OneFootInIceland]

Loving this series Matthew, takk fyrir útskýrt! And what a fantastic mic in that weather, sound was just perfect - do we recognise the expert hand of the International Man of Mystery there? And one final point - can we start a high five club sponsorship to get poor Matthew a hat?!!

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Thank you for your continued interest in this project. Yes, as I've said to several other viewers, and can be seen in some of our other videos, I did invest in a hat immediately after this shoot! And yes, the great sound and video quality is all down to Art. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby

[@thorsgoldensSong]

Just awesome! What camera-work! Especially at 12:50-13:00! Really well done with the storytelling, also! I really appreciate how accessible he made Egill's Saga. More more more, please! Incredible!

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Yes, Art's an excellent cameraman! Our goal is to make the stories as accessible as possible, so it's great to read comments like this. Thank you for your ongoing support and we hope you'll stick around for more Saga Stories in the future. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby

[@thorsgoldensSong]

@@TheReykjavikGrapevine Thank you, Dr. Roby! We are eagerly awaiting your next Saga Story! How's about one of the ghost stories from the Sagas?

[@ninaaugust3849]

Nice pictures. Looking forward to hearing other interesting sagas, thanks!

[@user-kt4hg8zj2v]

Hello

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Thanks again for your interest in this and other Saga Stories videos. We really appreciate it! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby and the Reykjavík Grapevine team

[@jonrutherford6852]

Thanks for both the stories and context, and the wonderful captions. Much appreciated.

[@MikeM-go7hp]

I can't get enough of this sort of stuff. Thank you so much.

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

It's our pleasure. Thank you for watching! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby

[@IreneVlazaki]

So fascinating! Everything about this video on icelandic Sagas fits into the discourse. The places, the colours, the angles, the monuments, the story and the story teller of course! Great work!

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Thank you for your support, and for your kind words. We love making the videos, so it's great to hear that people enjoy watching them too. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby

[@2mifune]

Wonderful! Thank you. Love Egill's saga

[@jamesscharpf7726]

Dr. Roby and Reykjavik Grapevine- Thank you for this series. I'm really enjoying this introduction to the Sagas, as well as learning a bit about the pronunciation of Icelandic names!

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Thank you for your interest. It's our hope that these videos will bring the sagas to a wider audience, so it's great to see comments like this. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby

[@DalCecilRuno]

Beautiful poem at the end. Please please! Make an audiobook! Matthew sounds like an amazing narrator. You've got a fan. Thank you for this series.

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Thanks again. So glad you're enjoying it! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby

[@pbanther3902]

I started paying closer attention as it demanded I hear the grief. I wonder about its use as a funeral reading.....so people could grieve. I am less found of the fashion for celebration of life happening too soon.

[@cgoodson2010]

You are amazingly dedicated! I don't think I would've stuck it out in that wind! Bravo and thank you!! P.S. As I listen to your videos, Iceland is becoming more and more a living entity rather than just a place. I can't wait until my visit next summer!!

[@debbiecaudill8799]

Beautiful! I have wanted to hear the sagas for a while now. This video series brings them to life. Thank you!

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Thank you. Our whole aim with this project is to bring the sagas to a wider audience, so it's great to read comments like this! Thanks for your ongoing support. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby and the Reykjavík Grapevine team

[@DavidIrthum]

How very beautiful day despite the weather.

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Yes, it was awfully chilly that day! Thanks for watching! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby and the Reykjavík Grapevine team

[@x.h.449]

Like a true Viking, obviously forgot his hat, throws himself against the wind to tell us a great story. Everyone else would go: Dude, It's too cold, let's postpone ... This guy (covered in snow): hmm, little windy..., let's go out in the field, where everything took place

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

It was certainly bracing that day! I invested in a hat very soon after. I've lived in Canada in the past, so I thought I'd have no problem with Icelandic winters. But although the temperature itself is not nearly as low, the wind here can be excruciating. Thanks for your support and we hope you'll stay tuned for more! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby

[@keythw.5159]

Love the scenery in #1, not to mention the stories. It's like Saga Cliff Notes! Keep it going, please.

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Thank you for your continued support. We really appreciate it! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby

[@HerrHertzsprung]

This is great! Thank you!

[@foxgloverose4788]

Thank you so much for your work bringing these wonderful sagas to life! For so long I have wanted to see the places where each of the sagas occurred. I really appreciated that you moved numerous times at each step so we could see the locale from many angles! Although the weather was brutal at times I appreciate that you persevered and told us the sagas as the cold wind whipped about. It actually helped to further take me into the landscape and the people and places of the sagas! The camera work is excellent! What a team! You have done a remarkable job and I am looking forward to watching the rest of your series tonight from the warmth of my home (-28 here tonight.)

[@dizheller2101]

Brilliant! I love these stories! Onwards to the next...

[@catrionahenderson7759]

Fantastic. Thank you so much for doing these Sagas.

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Glad you like them!

[@specialzero75]

Great episode. I love the story and seeing the places described in the saga. Thank you!

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Our pleasure!

[@alisongregson4740]

Loving this series! Thank you!

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Thanks for your ongoing support. We really appreciate it! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby

[@refede8099]

Thanks, Dr. Matthew Roby, nice reduction of the main sages and the wonderful location of the narrative. I look forward to Snorri Sturluson's sages.

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Thanks for your support. We have a lot of sagas to get through, but there should be a video on Snorra Edda coming soon! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby

[@epincion]

Thank you - enjoying this series and learning about an ancient culture

[@deborahferguson1163]

Really enjoyed this, including the poem.! Thank you!!!

[@user-gs1et6sx4k]

Thank you so much for your work 🙏 very interesting story! 👍

[@MaAllen417]

Dr. Roby I really enjoyed the way the story telling of the saga, thank you for bearing the cold and translating. I have subscribed! watching out for more.

[@reginaromsey]

Very interesting narration of Egil’s Saga. I am so glad to have the correct Icelandic pronunciation!

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Thank you for your continued support, and for your kind words. My Icelandic isn't perfect, but it's getting better every day I spend in this amazing country! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby

[@PalleRasmussen]

The Old Norse pronounciation is different though. For the correct pronounciations, Jackson Crawford's channel is great. Thaks for the summary though Matthew. Keep doing it, The Sagas are pure gold.

[@joan8mp]

Dr Roby, thank you so much for this fascinating insight into the saga of Egil which I found most interesting. It gives me immense pleasure to see that you have continued with your interest and knowledge in history and poetry from when I first heard your wonderful rendition of King Harold 11 at the Battle of Hastings when you were a lot younger. Keep up this fine work and stay safe. JRD.

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

JRD, I'm really glad to see you've been watching and enjoying the videos. Thanks also for the memory about Marriott Edgar's poem. So long ago! Looking forward to seeing you soon and I hope you and the rest of your family are staying safe and well. Best wishes, from Matthew

[@PACstove]

luv this channel!!

[@SheldonT.]

Excellent! Thank you.

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@wgolden3]

This is my favorite of the sagas I've read so far. Takk fyrir!

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Verði þér að góðu! Bestu kveðjur, Matthew Roby

[@Judithgoulding9999]

Super interesting! Thank you!

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@thomasgooseman1068]

absolutely brilliant! I'm currently reading Eigil's saga in danish in the newly translated version. Thanks so much.

[@haraldurkarlsson1147]

Well done and timely. I read Egils Saga as a youth but I am still look new things. It is such rich story.

[@rhoddryice5412]

Been listening to the two first episodes on my phone. I must watch it again on a TV.

[@torytrae1974]

wonderful, takk fyrir

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Verði þér að góðu! Bestu kveðjur, Matthew Roby

[@joblack420]

Good work

[@user-gr5tu3by1p]

Cant wait for your video on Brennu Njálssaga!

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Thanks for your interest! Hope you enjoyed the Njáls saga video, and will stay tuned for even more Saga Stories in the future. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby

[@mickgudgeon6402]

Thank you Matthew, another fascinating insight... would be interesting to hear Sonatorrek in its original form?

[@carlsurtermoore1720]

Awesome story to hear once again but this time from the area he grew up. I did however want to say that I can believe the stories of him at 3 years of age since I grew up on a ranch in Colorado and by the time I was 4 I was riding horses on my own and doing above normal riding skills, would always find ways to sneak into my parents parties and make myself at home trying to drink everyone's beers and try talk stories like them. Now I do know it might not been best conversations I gave but I had spent many times listening before and knew just how to give fun speeches. Yes they may not been very good again but I had picked up what my parents and their friends would do and say and spent a lot of my time mimicking them cause I wanted be more like them all. Guess all I'm saying is the story of him at 3yrs really isn't that far fetched when you think about it, especially when we see kids that age doing things that we as adults couldn't do back then for whatever reason. Kids, especially gifted ones just seem to be light years ahead of us adults when we was their age and even decades older. Anyhow thanks for an amazing story in the harsh winds and snow. Looking forward to watching more

[@TheMrEgils]

As named Egils, I share too much things about Egil and its scary - Being born as smart (I stared to say sentences when I was 11 months and started to walk myself when I was 9 months old) and yes my life is made of tragedies and I have a lot anger issues that made some people to leave me, I spent 3 years in prison, depression and I like to write poems, draw stuff myself. I hope its just coincidence.. Still, love your video

[@20houselover]

This Men is Great

[@mikebattista1523]

This saga reminds me of the Hrolf Kraki saga. Very interesting!

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Egils saga does indeed contain numerous scenes that are (deliberately or otherwise) reminiscent of Hrólfs saga kraka. The most memorable is perhaps the aged Egill's plan to cause chaos by throwing his treasure all over the ground at the Alþing, which is similar to something Hrólfr does to facilitate his escape from his enemies. Thanks for watching and commenting, and we hope you'll stay tuned for more Saga Stories in the future! Best wishes, from Matthew Roby and the Reykjavík Grapevine team

[@mikebattista1523]

@@TheReykjavikGrapevine I definitely look forward to more Saga stories! Keep them coming please.

[@anonthedev]

U are awesome

[@sal2372]

you should come to Italy to do some conferences

[@28105wsking]

Why is it always sunset in these videos, but it never gets darker and it never gets lighter? The sun just stays in the same place?

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

We only started the Saga Stories project in winter, so naturally the days have been very short and dark. But even when the sun is in the sky, which when this video was filmed was only for five or six hours, its path is very low in the sky.

[@MarkRichardsonPhotos]

Wonderful. But now Im very cold.

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Haha yes, it was freezing that day! As I've mentioned to a few other viewers, I bought a fur hat pretty much the next day. Best wishes, from Matthew Roby

[@pennywood5653]

Supernatural strength after sunset, anger, older generation..... Dementia.

[@CKing-388]

I didn’t realize there are no trees in Iceland

[@PalleRasmussen]

I love and miss Iceland, so fertile, warm and green. Egil's name was pronounced Skallagrimsson, not Skatlagrim, the latter is modern Icelandic.

[@The1Hamp]

Supernatural strength, lack of control, going berserk at sundown. Sounds like sundowning syndrome (for instance, with Alzheimer's Disease).

[@chrisferguson7676]

My grandmother passed away of Alzheimer's recently and I remember that she used to sundown. At first when he was talking about shape-shifting, an alcohol induced rage came to mind as I'm sure that most individuals especially men participated in evening drinking, but I think you have brought to light another variable to contemplate. Thank you.

[@AriesJedi]

Berserker means Bearskin and is mentioned in a book called The Real Middle Earth. Berserkers can be asleep and their Spirit walks abroad and makes another flesh body of any shape. Modern berserker are called Super soldiers. May come from the Benjaminite tribe.

[@AriesJedi]

PS Adrenaline ignites the ability. I have lifted a car to avoid my whole family dying.

[@TheReykjavikGrapevine]

Thanks for your interest. Yes, the rages that Kveldúlfr and Skalla-Grímr are said to experience are definitely connected to the broader literary tradition of the berserkir. Fascinating stuff!

[@MrNova37]

he must have bin vell payed for walking in blistering vinds in iceland freaseing him self