EGILL SKALLAGRMSSON

born c. 910, Borg, Ice. died 990 , Skallagrmsson also spelled Skalla-grmsson one of the greatest of Icelandic skaldic poets (see skaldic poetry), whose adventurous life and verses are preserved in Egils saga (c. 1220), attributed to Snorri Sturluson. The saga portrays Egill as having a dual nature derived from his mixed descent from fair, extroverted Vikings and dark, taciturn Sami (Lapps). He was headstrong, vengeful, and greedy for gold, but also a loyal friend, a shy lover, and a devoted father. As a young man he killed the son of King Erik Bloodax and placed a curse upon the king, which he inscribed on a pole in magic runes. Later, shipwrecked off the coast of Northumbria, Eng., he fell into Erik's hands ( c. 948) but saved his own life by composing in a single night the long praise poem Hofuthlausn (Head Ransom), praising Erik in a unique end-rhymed metre. Another long praise poem, Arinbjarnakvitha (Lay of Arinbjorn), is also attributed to him. Shortly after the death of two of his sons, Egill locked himself in his enclosed bed and refused food. His daughter coaxed him into writing a poem; so he composed (c. 961) the deeply personal lament Sonatorrek (Loss of Sons, or Revenge Denied). The poem is also a family portrait in which he recalls the deaths of his parents as well; in it desire for revenge and hatred of the gods overwhelm him, but gradually he bows his head in resignation. After finishing the poem, Egill resumed his normal life. He lived to be old and blind and to write a lament on his senility.