The Tale of Auðun of the West Fjords

Auðunar þáttr vestfirska (Old Norse: Old Norse pronunciation: [ˈɔuðunɑz̠ ˈθɑːttz̠ ˈwestˌfirskɑ]; Modern Icelandic: Auðunar þáttur vestfirska [ˈœyːðʏːnar ˈθauhtʏr ˈvɛstˌfɪska]; The Tale of Auðun of the West Fjords) is a short tale (or þáttr) preserved in three distinct versions as part of the saga of Harald III of Norway (reigned 1047–66, a.k.a.

Widely translated and anthologised, it is admired for its beautifully simple account[1] of a poor Icelander from the Westfjords, the harshest region of the country, who decides to take a polar bear as a present to Sweyn II of Denmark (reigned 1047-74/76, a.k.a.

Auðun sticks to his task despite having to pass through the court of Haraldr, who is continually at odds with Sweyn, and proceeds on a pilgrimage to Rome.

Auðun then travels to Greenland, where he meets a hunter named Eirik and buys a polar bear from him with the remainder of his money.

Auðun replies he cannot stay and must return to Iceland, since the three-year period he set money aside to provide for his mother is nearly up.

[5] Miller further connects the root of auð to the vað in vaðmál, the woven cloth used as a type of currency in medieval Iceland, and to the spinning and weaving of fate by the Norns.

"[6] Miller rejects scholars' two main theories of Auðun's motives for his behavior: that he is either a holy fool or acting solely out of self-interest.

Edward G. Fichtner sees the story representing Auðun's coming of age "by his learning how to participate in the exchange of gifts in his culture"[11]