Hrolf Kraki Notes

Halfdan: King of Denmark. Defeated by his brother Frodi.

Frodi: Takes Denmark from his brother, Halfdan. Finds out who Hroar and Helgi are.

Helgi: Son of Halfdan; hides from frodi on the island; uses a fake name [Hrani] ; Rules Denmark; marries his daughter Yrsa; has son Hrolf

Hroar: Son of Halfdan; hides on the island from Frodi as well ; uses a fake name [Ham] ; escapes into the forest where he is revealed; burns Frodi in the hall; settles in England; killed by Hrok.

Signy: daughter of Halfdan ; almost reveals identities of her brothers, Helgi and Hroar. Mothe rof Hrok.

Regin: Hides Helgi and Hroar from Frodi ; helps them escape from Frodi ; ends up dying .

Vifil: Reveals true identity of Helgi and Hroar; island dweller

Heid: betrayer of Helgi and Hroar

Olaf: Mother of Yrsa ; warrior Queen ; turns down Helgi when he asks to marry her ; raped by Helgi later on ; Tells Yrsa that she married her father incestly. Agrees to Adils proposal to marry Yrsa.

Yrsa: Daughter of Olof and Helgi ; has son Hrold by Helgi [her father] ; Marries Adils

Hrok: Son of Saevil & Signay; wants either a ring or part of kingdom of Denmark; throws ring into the ocean; gets feet cut off; kills Hroar, then killed by Helgi .

Adils: King of Sweden. Married to Yrsa. Ambushes and kills Helgi. Takes in Svipdag as one of his champions, then abandons him in battle against the berserkers.

Skuld: Marries Hjorvard; attacks Hrolf

Berserkers; warriors who fight for honor to their King.

Svipdag: son of Svip ; battles the berserkers ; leaves Adils kingdom for another King ; joins Hrolf in Denmark ; goes to Adils hall with Hrolf ; asks for truce between Adils and Hrolf.

Svip: has a dream that Svipdag is in trouble ; tells Svipdag's brothers, Beygad and Hvitserk to go and help him.

Bjalki: Warrior of King Hrolf

Bera: falls in love with Bjorn the bear; takes ring from underneath his shoulder; Hvit forces her to eat Bjorn; has sons Elk-Frodi, Thorir, and Bodvar ; tells Bodvar of father's legacy. Marries Valsleyt.

Bjorn: Man who turns into bear form; loves Bera; turned into a bear by Hvit due to sexual rejection.

Bodvar Bjarki: Son of Bjorn and Bera ; kills Hvit by avenging his father ; succeeds Hring as king; draws the sword from the rock Bjorn left for him ; drinks his brothers blood ; saves Hott from the bone pile in the hall ; kills monster and makes Hott drink the blood and eat the heart ; marries Drifa, Hrolf's daughter ; named Hrolf's greatest warrior .

Drifa: Married to Bodvar ; Daughter of King Hrolf.

Elk-Frodi: Half man half elk ; draws the short sword from the rock ; becomes an outlaw ; wrestles his brother Bodvar until he recognizes him ; makes Bodvar drink his blood for strength.

Haki:
Hakland:
Hardrefil:
Hjalti:
Hott:
Hjorvard:

Hring: Father of Bjorn; marries Hvit; Father in law of Bera.

Hromund:
Hvit:
Skuld:
Storolf:
Vogg:
Vott:

2. Explain how the following themes work and what characters can looked at as symbols of the theme:

Role of Kings:
Role of the warrior:
Role of women:
Concept of Magic:
Revenge:
Hospitality:
Loyalty:
Pride:
Man alone in a hostile world:

3. Discuss one event in the story that seems to represent what you believe the book to be about.
4. How do Hrolf and his Champions compare with King Arthur and the round table?
5. Make a list of at least ten moments of magic in the book.
6. Who is your favorite character and why?
7. How is the Cult of Odin important to this book?
8. Compare Hrolf Kraki to Beowulf.