hrolf kraki

The role of kings:
Through all the stories, we have read thus far, there are many kings. By analyzing their strengths and weaknesses, we can determine what makes a good king, and what makes a bad king. Furthermore, we can assess what role the king should take in the governing of his community.
In Hrolf Kraki, there are numerous kings, both good and bad. Hrolf I believe is a good king, because he is wise and well mannered, not too eager to fight, but not a coward either. Frodi is a terrible king. He kills his brother takes over the land acts dishonorably to all and rules with an iron fist. So he dies. In betwixt these two is the father of Bjorn whose name escapes me. He is unwilling to confront the queen on her misdeeds, but does not cause mayhem either. Eventually though she’s bound and dragged throughout the streets.
The role of warriors
Warriors are especially important to Hrolf Kraki because everyone is a warrior… at least if they are not a woman, or a god. Warriors must defend their honor, serve their lord, and protect the king as well as gaining fame. Obviously Bodvar is an example of warriors in Hrolf Kraki, along with his brother Elk-frodi, Hjalti, and Svipdag as well. Elk-frodi is a terrible warrior who is self-centered and cares only or the material, yet he swears to avenge his brother’s death. Hjalti at first is a pathetic excuse of a warrior, but after gaining immense courage becomes one of the foremost among kin Hrolf’s champions. Svipdag is also an excellent warrior although he leaves his country of origin, this Is excusable because king Adils treated him badly and dishonored him.
Women are evil
The role of women is to cause mayhem and destruction, or to create peace between nations. Powerful women prefer the former. Yrsa displays the correct female behavior, obedient. Although she talks out against her king she does nothing, even when he kills her father/lover. The only action she takes is to give her son a little bonus to her rightful inheritance. On the other hand Sculd demonstrates the evil intentions of women by using her magical elfin bloodlines to gain the powers of sorcery, keep an army on its feet, kill hrolf, and summon a magical boar. Why? Because she’s a woman!
MAGIC!
Magic kills people. Why is there no healing, uniting, fun-loving magic? Because it’s FROM THE DEVIL THAT’S WHY! Oh wait that was Beowulf, this poem has no Christianity (I think). BECAUSE ITS FROM THE UNDERWORLD THAT’S WHY! Magic is used to represent power, and personally I think it is more a reflection on intuition then actual magic. Perhaps Adils was a con-artist and a trickster rather than a sorcerer. Perhaps Sculd was just a brilliant tactician rather than summoning the dead.
Revenge:
Revenge is present in these types of stories because they were so honor bound that they felt they needed to seek revenge even for many of the smallest insults. For example, Hjorvard does not want to pay tribute… so he ambushes, torches, and destroys the kingdom. Olaf shaves Helgi, Helgi rapes Olaf, Olaf makes Helgi disgrace himself, it’s a never ending cycle which only escalates until they are putting dead squirrels on each others horses. Clearly this shows revenge and the destructive nature of it, for neither side benefits from their revenge, they are only embarrassed.
Hospitality:
Hospitality is related to honor, those who are honorable are also hospitable. Those who try and set you afire are not. King Adils ambushes them, calls a true, sets them afire, and then runs away. He is not hospitable. King Hrolf is. He brings in Bodvar and welcomes him, although that could be because he threw one of his men into the air and destroyed some of his berserkers. Still, King-Hrolf welcomes him when many of his men urged him not to do so. Elk-Frodi is inhospitable, when his brothers come to his residence, he slams a sword into the bench their sitting on, and then wrestles them, and then stamps a puddle into a stone.
3) Discuss one event in the story that seems to represent what you believe the book to be about.
I believe the main story of the book is revenge and when its appropriate. Olaf’s revenge on King Helgi is cruel and leads to her embarrassment. King Helgi also embarrasses himself by marrying his daughter. No good comes out of either revenge. However, avenging (another form of revenge) is honorable and benefits those who have the courage to undertake it. Hroar and Helgi avenge their father and become kings. Also Bodvar avenges his father against the evil queen Hvit, for which he is not cursed, or tricked into sleeping with her daughter.

4) How do Hrolf and is champions compare with Arthur and the round table?
King Hrolf’s champions are less equal to their king than Arthur’s. Whereas King Hrolf rules over them at the head of the table, King Arthur sits among them. Both kings use their men better then Beowulf though.
8) Compare Hrolf Kraki to Beowulf.
Hrolf Kraki is very different to Beowulf, although they are faced with very similar challenges. Both have dragons come to their country, but whereas Beowulf fights and dies, Hrolf Kraki hides. Beowulf has Ofermod, while Hrolf Kraki is almost too coward-like. This is shown again when Hrolf kraki is willing to disguise himself when he is in King Adil’s court, this is very dishonorable and something Beowulf never would.