The Laxdæla Saga on Gudrun

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxxii

• relationship: Gudrun was Osvif's daughter, the foremost of women in Iceland in both looks and wits

  "Gudrun was the name of their daughter."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxxiii

• attestation: Gudrun met Gest and told him her four prophetic dreams for interpretation

  "Meeting of Gudrun and Gest"

• attestation: Gudrun's first dream involved a headdress she disliked and threw into water, foretelling her first unhappy marriage

  "Gest Oddleifson lived west at Bardastrand, at Hagi."

• attestation: Gudrun's second dream involved a silver ring she lost, foretelling her second marriage's end

  "Gest Oddleifson lived west at Bardastrand"

• attestation: Gudrun's third dream involved a gold ring she broke, foretelling a third husband's death

  "Gest Oddleifson lived west at Bardastrand"

• attestation: Gudrun's fourth dream involved a gold helmet so heavy it bowed her head, foretelling her fourth husband would drown

  "Gest Oddleifson lived west at Bardastrand"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxxiv

• relationship: Gudrun was betrothed to Thorvald with Osvif settling the marriage contract alone

  "After that Gudrun was betrothed to Thorvald, and Osvif settled alone the marriage contrac"

• attestation: Gudrun was unhappy in her first marriage to Thorvald

  "Gudrun's First Marriage, A.D. 989"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxxv

• attestation: Gudrun entered her second marriage around 991 AD

  "Gudrun's Second Marriage, A.D. 991"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxxvi

• attestation: Gudrun was deeply affected by Thord's death and was pregnant at the time

  "Gudrun took the death of Thord sorely to heart, for she was now a woman not hale, and coming close to her time."

• attestation: Gudrun gave birth to a boy who was named Thord, later surnamed the Cat

  "After that Gudrun gave birth to a boy, who was sprinkled with water and called Thord."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xxxix

• attestation: Gudrun responded to her father that he who has the wisdom of Gest is not counsel-bereft

  "Then said Gudrun, "He is not counsel-bereft, father, who has"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xl

• relationship: Gudrun and Kjartan developed a mutual attraction before his departure to Norway

  "[Sidenote: The family of Asgeir]"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xliii

• attestation: Gudrun was persuaded to marry Bolli after hearing that Kjartan had formed an attachment in Norway

  "A little after this Bolli talked to his uncle Olaf"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xlvi

• attestation: Gudrun had previously always held the high seat at Herdholt and elsewhere

  "But before this Gudrun had always had the high seat at Herdholt and everywhere else."

• attestation: Gudrun urged Hrefna to display the costly head-dress, but Kjartan forbade it

  "Gudrun was talking to Hrefna, and said she ought to coif herself with the head-dress, and show people the most costly treasure that had ever come to Iceland. Kjartan was near, but not quite close, and heard what Gudrun said, and he was quicker to answer than Hrefna. "She shall not coif herself with the headgear at this feast, for I set more store by Hrefna owning the greatest of treasures than by the guests having it to feast thereon their eyes at this time."

• attestation: Gudrun privately asked to see the head-dress; Hrefna showed it, and Gudrun examined it without comment

  "The next day Gudrun was talking to Hrefna, and said she ought to coif herself with the head-dress, and show people the most costly treasure that had ever come to Iceland."

• attestation: Hrefna's coif disappeared at Laugar; Gudrun suggested it was left behind or dropped on the way

  "Gudrun said it was most likely the coif had been left behind at home, or that she had packed it so carelessly that it had fallen out on the way."

• attestation: Gudrun responded defiantly, suggesting those responsible had merely reclaimed what was rightfully theirs

  "Now, let it be granted, as you say, that there be some people here who have put their heads together with a view to the coif disappearing. I can only think that they have gone and taken what was their own."

• attestation: Gudrun implied she would not regret Hrefna losing access to the head-dress

  "I cannot say I dislike it though it should be bestowed in such a way as that Hrefna should have little chance to improve her apparel with it henceforth."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xlvii

• attestation: Gudrun was deeply shamed by the siege and urged revenge against Kjartan

  "Hrefna smiled and said, "It was told me as truth that you and Gudrun had some talk together, and I have likewise heard how she was arrayed, that she had coifed herself with the head-dress, and it suited her exceeding well."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Xlviii

• attestation: The men of Laugar and Gudrun plotted an ambush against Kjartan around 1003 AD

  "The Men of Laugar and Gudrun plan an Ambush for Kjartan, A.D. 1003"

• attestation: Gudrun and the sons of Osvif planned an ambush for Kjartan around 1003 AD

  "[Sidenote: Gudrun wakes her brothers] After that he rode south through Swinedale."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Lv

• attestation: Gudrun witnessed Bolli's death or its immediate aftermath

  "were left the two, Gudrun and Bolli."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Lvi

• attestation: Halldor's followers discussed how Gudrun seemed unfazed by Bolli's death, chatting with them as they departed

  "Gudrun must think but little of the slaying of Bolli, since she had seen them off chatting and talked to them altogether as if they had done nothing that she might take to heart."

• attestation: Gudrun concealed her true feelings about Bolli's death behind a mask of composure

  "I think the reason of her seeing us off"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Lix

• attestation: Gudrun demanded revenge for Bolli's death around 1019 AD

  "Gudrun demands Revenge for Bolli, A.D. 1019"

• attestation: Gudrun rode from home into the Dales during Twinmonth and visited Thickshaw

  "In "Twinmonth" that summer Gudrun, Osvif's daughter, went from home up into the Dales. She rode to Thickshaw"

• attestation: Gudrun sent a man to Snorri Godi that same night, requesting a meeting

  "The same night Gudrun sent a man to Snorri Godi saying that she wished to me"

• attestation: Gudrun sought Snorri Godi's counsel and support for avenging Bolli's death

  "In "Twinmonth" that summer Gudrun, Osvif's daughter, went from home up into the Dales."

• attestation: Gudrun organized the conspiracy for revenge around 1019 AD, over a decade after Bolli's death

  "In "Twinmonth" that summer Gudrun, Osvif's daughter, went from home up into the Dales."

• attestation: Gudrun drove the vengeance quest, using personal meetings to recruit supporters

  "She rode to Thickshaw"

• attestation: The revenge for Bolli was a carefully planned political operation requiring alliances

  "In "Twinmonth" that summer Gudrun, Osvif's daughter, went from home up into the Dales."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Lx

• attestation: Gudrun incited others to take action through goading

  "The Egging of Gudrun"

• attestation: Gudrun called her sons to the orchard to discuss avenging their father Bolli

  "Gudrun had come home she called her sons to her to have a talk with them in her orchard"

• attestation: Gudrun displayed blood-stained linen clothes (shirt and breeches) belonging to their father as a goad to revenge

  "they saw how there were lying out some linen clothes, a shirt and linen breeches, and they were much stained with blood. Then spake Gudrun: "These same clothes you see here cry to you for your father's revenge. I will not say many words on this matter, for it is past hope that you will heed an egging-on by words alone if you bring not home to your minds such hints and reminders as these."

• attestation: Gudrun chided her sons for not heeding verbal urgings toward revenge

  "I will not say many words on this matter, for it is past hope that you will heed an egging-on by words alone if you bring not home to your minds such hints and reminders as these."

• attestation: Gudrun mockingly said they would prefer horse-fights or sports to avenging their father

  "Gudrun said, "They would be likely to give more thought to horse-fights or sports.""

• attestation: Gudrun told Thorgils she believed her sons were now ready to avenge their father's death

  "I am given to think, Thorgils, that my sons brook it ill to sit thus quietly on any longer without seeking revenge for their father's death."

• attestation: Gudrun craftily promised before witnesses to marry no man in Iceland other than Thorgils, without intending to keep the spirit of the vow

  "I promise this to Thorgils, that of men in this land I shall marry none but him, and I do not purpose to go and marry in any other land."

• attestation: Gudrun excluded Ornolf from the witness group, saying she doubted his faithfulness to Thorgils

  "Gudrun said there was no need of that, "For I am more doubtful of Ornolf's faithfulness to you than I think you are yourself.""

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Lxv

• attestation: Gudrun deceived Thorgils regarding a marriage promise she had implied

  "Of Gudrun's Deceit"

• attestation: Gudrun carefully questioned Thorgils about everything that happened on the expedition

  "Gudrun asked them most carefully for the tidings of what had happened on their journey."

• attestation: Gudrun praised the journey as most stirringly carried out and gave her thanks

  "Gudrun said the journey had been most stirringly carried out, and bade them have her thanks for it."

• attestation: Food was set before the avengers and they were shown to bed for the night

  "After that food was set before them, and after they had eaten they were shown to bed, and slept the rest of the night."

• attestation: Gudrun showed composed satisfaction over the successful revenge for Bolli

  "the journey had been most stirringly carried out"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Lxvi

• attestation: Gudrun had a church constructed at Holyfell, showing her piety and influence

  "Gudrun had had a church built there."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Lxviii

• relationship: Gudrun married Thorkell Eyjolfson

  "Gudrun's Marriage with Thorkell Eyjolfson"

• attestation: Gudrun accepted Thorkell as her fourth husband after Thorgils's death cleared the way

  "The same summer that Thorgils Hallason was killed"

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Lxix

• attestation: Gudrun sheltered the outlaw Gunnar despite the risk, demonstrating her boldness

  "she had taken him in, his name being kept secret."

Laxdaela > Saga > Chap. Lxxviii

• attestation: Gudrun became one of the most respected women in Iceland, eventually becoming a nun and anchoress

  "who had for wife Gudrun, the daughter of Sigmund."

• attestation: When asked which man she loved most, Gudrun famously replied about the man she treated worst

  "The Death of Snorri, and the End"