Eating Hearts and Biting Noses

Abstract

This article explores the transition from Höttr to Hjalti inn hugprúði in the Old Norse fornaldarsaga, ‘Hrólfs saga kraka ok kappa hans.’ Höttr is a cowardly figure, inhabiting a makeshift shelter of bones in the outer reaches of King Hrólfr’s hall. After eating the heart of a fearsome beast, he acquires remarkable strength and goes on to be renamed Hjalti. Hjalti becomes one of Hrólfr’s most favored warriors, sitting on the inner benches of his hall. Before the final battle of the saga’s denouement, he commits a despicable act: he bites the nose off his lover. Beginning the saga as a victim within the violent masculine hegemony of King Hrólfr’s hall, Hjalti transitions from abused to abuser. This article explores this artificially-induced character development and the apparent binaries of Höttr and Hjalti, who appear to be positioned at opposite ends of the spectrum of socially acceptable masculinities within the hall environment.