Icelandic Folktales and Legends

This book of 85 stories from medieval Iceland illustrates a variety of supernatural beliefs concerning elves, gigantic trolls, water monsters, ghosts, wizards and black magic rites, buried treasure and religious tales. The stories are intimately linked to the landscape and reflect the hopes, fears, hardships and preoccupations of everyday life. The translation of each tale is accompanied by an explanatory introduction and notes.

Jacqueline Simpson is one of Britain’s most distinguished folklorists and Old Norse scholars. Magnus Magnusson is an Icelandic national who has spent most of his life in Scotland. He has presented many programs on BBC TV, including Chronicle, Mastermind, and a 12-part series on Vikings! He has published more than 20 books.

Foreword

7

(2)

Magnus Magnusson

Preface

9

(1)

Introduction

10

(13)

Note on the Second Edition

23

(4)

The Hidden People

27

(50)

The Origin of Elves (I)

28

(1)

The Origin of Elves (II)

29

(1)

The Elfin Fisherman

30

(2)

The Elfin Woman in Childbirth

32

(2)

Dr Skapti Sasmundsson

34

(2)

Playing `Blind Beggar'

36

(1)

Lappa, the Elfin Cow

37

(2)

The Changeling who Stretched

39

(1)

`Let Us Take Him!'

40

(1)

Making a Changeling

41

(2)

Father of Eighteen Elves

43

(2)

The Child and the Elf-Woman

45

(3)

The Church Builder at Reynir

48

(1)

The Girl at the Shieling

49

(5)

The Red-Headed Whale

54

(3)

Hild, Queen of the Elves

57

(8)

The Elves Dance on New Year's Eve

65

(4)

The Sisters and the Elves

69

(1)

The Elves at the Crossroads

70

(2)

The Elves Move House

72

(2)

`My Old Woman must be Paid'

74

(3)

Trolls

77

(28)

Blessing the Cliffs

78

(2)

The Ogress of Mjoafjord

80

(2)

Some She-Trolls

82

(2)

The Shepherdess and the Trolls

84

(1)

The Old Man of the Cliff

85

(1)

Gilitrutt

86

(3)

How Kraka Lost her Lover

89

(2)

Trunt, Trunt, and the Trolls in the Fells

91

(1)

The Ballads of Andri and the Hymns of Hallgrim

92

(2)

The Night-Troll

94

(2)

The Origin of Drangey Island

96

(2)

Bergthor of Blafell

98

(2)

The Giantess' Staff

100

(2)

Gryla

102

(3)

Water-Dwellers

105

(14)

Then the Merman Laughed

106

(2)

The Sea-Cows

108

(2)

The Water Horse

110

(1)

The Water Horse Hears his Name

111

(1)

The Water Horse Made to Work

112

(2)

The Seal's Skin

114

(2)

The Water-Snake of Lagarfljot

116

(3)

Ghosts

119

(44)

`Mother Mine, Don't Weep, Weep'

120

(2)

`Isn't it Fun in the Dark!'

122

(1)

The Lovers

123

(1)

Murder Will Out

124

(1)

Jon Flak

125

(1)

Burning the Coffins

126

(1)

`Give me my Bone, Gunna!'

127

(1)

`My Jawbones!'

128

(1)

The Dead Man's Nightcap

129

(2)

The Bridegroom and the Dead Man

131

(4)

The Miserly Ghost

135

(2)

The Boy who Knew no Fear

137

(9)

The Deacon of Myrka

146

(4)

The Ghost's Son

150

(4)

The Girl who Turned in her Grave

154

(1)

The Woman in the Red Cap

155

(2)

Mori, the Ghost of Irafell

157

(6)

Black Magic

163

(34)

How to Raise the Dead

164

(3)

The Vertebra

167

(1)

The Neckbone on the Knife

168

(1)

The Wizards of the Vestmanna Isles

169

(4)

The Priest and the Farmer

173

(2)

How Petur Got a Wall-Eye

175

(1)

The Black Death

176

(1)

Thorgeir's Bull

177

(4)

Lappish Breeches

181

(2)

The Tide Mouse

183

(2)

The Carrier

185

(4)

The Speaking Spirit

189

(1)

Sitting Out at Crossroads

190

(2)

Animal Plagues

192

(2)

The Witch's Bridle

194

(1)

Thor's Hammer

195

(2)

Buried Treasure

197

(8)

The Treasure of Fagriholl

198

(1)

The Chest of Gold

199

(2)

The Dreamer and the Treasure

201

(4)

God and the Devil

205

(12)

What Old Nick Got out of Man

206

(1)

Old Hornie Tried to Make a Man

207

(1)

The Halibut, the Lumpsucker, and the Jellyfish

208

(1)

Old Nick Speaks Latin

208

(1)

The Goblin on the Church-Beam

209

(2)

The Dance in Hruni Church

211

(3)

`My Jon's Soul'

214

(3)

Bibliography and Abbreviations

217

(3)

Index of Tale Types

220

(2)

General Index

222

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Icelandic Folktales and Legends

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials