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Ragnar's Saga (An episode in the language of the Vikings – Old Norse)
Ragnar's Saga (An episode in the language of the Vikings – Old Norse)
01:47
Oct 25, 2025 4:36 PM
Description
In this episode, I attempt to illustrate the sound and rhythm of Old Norse through a parody saga: The Saga of Ragnar the Cat and His Fish. What begins as a royal Sunday scene soon turns into a tragicomic meditation on fish, fate, and feline philosophy. The noble Ragnar Kǫttr, fish-king of Frogner, sits deep in thought at his table, carving shavings from a dried cod while his anxious bird-servant reminds him that Monday is near. What follows is a ritual of guilt, wisdom, and the burning of fish bones — told in the stately cadence of an Icelandic saga. Through this humorous retelling, I explore how Old Norse language, sounds, syntax, and storytelling traditions can be reimagined today — blending philology, parody, and pure absurdity. 1. Sá atburðr varð á einum sunnudegi, at Ragnarr Kǫttr, fiskkonungr af Frogneri, sat í hásæti sínu yfir borði. 2. Hann hafði svá djúpa hugsan um fisk ok speki, at hann gáði eigi stundanna. 3. Hann hafði kníf í hendi ok telgði flísar af þurrum þorski. 4. Kjøkenþjónninn, fugl lítill ok hræddr, stóð fyrir honum ok helt fiskfat. 5. Hann sá hvat konungr gerði ok skildi, at hann sjálfr hugði at ǫðru — líklega at fiskins eðli ok örlǫgum. 6. Þá mælti fuglinn lágt: “Mánadagr er á morgin, herra fiskhyggjumaðr!” 7. Ragnarr leit til hans, er hann heyrði þetta, ok mintisk þá hvat hann hafði gǫrt: hann hafði etit alla sunnudagslaxinn einn. 8. Síðan bað hann fœra sér kertisljós — eigi til iðrunnar, heldr til skemmtanar. 9. Hann sópaði saman fiskbeinum ǫllum í hǫnd sér, þeim er hann hafði gnat. 10. Þá brá hann þeim í logann ok lét brenna bein í lófa sér, sem helga fórn fisksins anda. 11. Þaðan mátti marka, at hann myndi fast halda sín lǫg ok boðorð, 12. ok vilja eigi yfir ganga þat, er hann vissi réttast — at engi fiskr skyldi deilask meir.
Podcast Channel
Everything Zenified
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