The Tale of Sarcastic Halli

The Tale of Sarcastic Halli (Icelandic Sneglu-Halla þáttur) is an Icelandic þáttr that despite being criticized for its lack of proper structure,[1] has been praised for its strong comedic effect.[2] The þáttr tells the tale of a battle of wits between Sarcastic (or Skinny)[3] Halli and Thjodolg master-poet in their attempts to appeal to King Harald. The þáttr is contained in the Morkinskinna.

Plot synopsis

Sarcastic Halli, an Icelander named for his sharp wit, entered into King Harald’s service and into competition with the court's master-poet, Thjodolf, to see who was the best. After quickly composing an insulting verse of the court's dwarf, Halli’s great skill is acknowledged by the king.

Halli soon becomes a critic of the king and his dining practices, as the king would start eating first and remove all food after he was full, often before everyone else was satisfied. The king confronts him over a bowl of porridge, which inspires his punishment to force Halli to eat porridge until he bursts or be decapitated. Halli calls him on his bluff and the king backs down.

He is tested again by being forced to compose a poetic verse before the dwarf can carry a roast pig to him. Halli succeeds and is much praised. He enters into conflict with Thjodolf again after Thjodolf accuses Halli of lying about his poem for the king. They engage in a senna, of which Halli is the victor.

Halli, in an attempt to punish an overbearing man named Einar the Fly, falsely claims he slew his brother. The man, known never to pay compensation, initially threatens Halli but eventually concedes after Halli threatens to ruin his name with insulting verses. Einar offers him three silver marks that are in his wallet. When Halli retrieves the wallet there are four, of which he takes three to avoid stealing so Einar has no way of taking legal recourse.

Halli goes to Denmark where he tricks a man, Raud, out of a golden arm ring and recites a very poor poem to the King of Denmark, in an attempt to receive money. The king takes well to the poem. The king offers to pour silver on his head, and Halli can keep what sticks to his hair.The plan backfires when Halli puts tar in his hair.

Halli receives an axe when he is caught staring at it. The king offers to have sex with him for it, to which Halli replies “No, but it seems understandable that you should sell the axe for the same price you paid for it." Halli latter dies in Iceland over a bowl of porridge.[4]

Interpretations and Implications

Scaldic poetry

The tale has been used to examine scaldic poetry outside of its courtly setting, and for its comedic as opposed to its praise-giving effects. It is believed that Scaldic poetry can be used to illustrate mundane activities as myths and legends, to not only insult the subject but maintain the poetic verse as high art.[3] The Tale of Sarcastic Halli has also been used to suggest that how the complexity of scaldic poetry has been used as a buffer between groups of Nordic culture against Danish and English Culture.[5] In effect, the ability, or lack thereof, to understand and differentiate quality from poor poetry and the complexity of the kennings within stands as a litmus test for esoteric or exoteric status.

Characterization of King Harald

The Tale of Sarcastic Halli has been used to characterized King Harald’s love of Icelander, Icelandic poets, and rude-crude humor[6] even if he is the subject of said humor, most notably the scene with the axe.[7] This point has been contested, and this same story has been suggested as an example of King Harald’s growing contempt for poets in the latter half of his life.[1]

The practice of senna

The tale suggests alternative structures to the Nordic practice of senna, or ritualistic insulting, as there is a clear instance of it contained within the þættir.[1] It suggest that the structure of the senna was not a ritualistic and more colloquial than thought, as there are examples of appeals to both the arbiter and the crowd. Additionally, it breaks the classic structure by the inclusion on an entire complete narrative within one of the retorts rather than the classical allusions to known events. It's believed that Halli and Thjodolg status as Icelanders in a Norwegian court, and therefore the absence of the common knowledge of these individuals histories, is the driving force for allowing a break in the senna structure.[8]

Food culture

The tale been used as an example of the strangeness of Icelandic food culture.[9]

Gift-giving practices

The interactions between King Harold and Halli in the axe scene has been used to demonstrate Nordic gift-giving practices and the fundamental importance between the words used for "to give" and "to sell".[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mitchell, Stephen (January 16, 2001). "Performance and Norse Poetry: The Hydromel of Praise and the Effluvia of Scorn" (PDF). Journal of Oral Tradition. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  2. ↑ - “‘What a Bitch!’: Genre, Genitalia, and Social-Climbing in the Tale of Sarcastic Halli (SnegluHalla Þáttr).” Medieval Studies Conference, Cornell University, February 19, 2005
  3. 1 2 Ross, Margarer (2005). A History of Old Norse Poetry and Poetics. 668 Mt Hope Acenne, Rochester, NY, 14620 USA: D.S. Brewer. pp. 114–120.
  4. ↑ Clark, George (2001). The sagas of Icelanders. New York,New York: Penguin Books. pp. 694–712. ISBN 0-670-88990-3.
  5. ↑ Reichl, Karl (2012). Medieval Oral Literature. Germany: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co.KG. pp. 150–160.
  6. ↑ HANNON, TIMOTHY (2010). THE TRANSFORMING SELF AND OTHERWORLDLY WISDOM: SOURCES OF POETIC INSPIRATION IN MEDIEVAL NORTHWEST EUROPE. ATHENS, GEORGIA: The University of Georgia. pp. 23–28.
  7. 1 2 Miller, William (2008). Audun and the Polar Bear: Luck, Law, and Largesse in a Medieval Tale of Risky Business. NV, Leiden, The Netherlands: Koninklijke Brill.
  8. ↑ GUREVICH, ELENA (2009). "From Accusation to Narration; The transformation of the senna in Íslendingaþættir" (PDF). SCRIPTA ISLANDICA. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  9. ↑ Schram, Kristinn (2011). "Banking on Borealism: Eating, Smelling, and Performing the North" (PDF). Presses de l’Université du Québec. Retrieved December 17, 2015.

External links

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