First off, I have to say that I am rather enjoying this saga, despite the fact that once again, everyone has the same names. I am surprised no one has ever made a Hollywood movie out of this, especially the first part concerning Thorolf Kveldulfsson and his fall from the king's grace, and the battles and revenge of his kin. It could be good.
Egil and his kinsname can be defined by some of the same characteristics, although Thorolf Kvedulfsson and Thorolf Skallagrimsson share more likeable traits, while Egil, Skallagrim, and Kveldulf share less likeable traits. They are all eager for glory, as evidenced by the two Thorolfs who join the king's men just to find favor, while Egil is eager for glory though battle. In chapter 46, when Egil and his men have escaped imprisonment and run off with booty, Egil insists on going back and killing their captors, because otherwise it would have been a cowardly plunder.
The most important trait this family shares is an inherent ability to anger the king. Thorolf Kveldufsson had been on his good side, but when he refused to rejoin the king's men and abandon his own followers, he set the tone for the rest of the saga and the struggle between his family and the Norweigan royals. Skallagrim wanted to return the axe that the king had sent, but thankfully one of his sons threw it into the ocean, therefore avoiding that potential catastrophe. Thorolf Skallagrimsson and Egil inherit this quality, as Thorir remarks, "'But you, Egil, have inherited your family's gift for caring too little about incurring the king's wrath, and that will be a great burden for most people to bear'" (71).
Some other traits Egil's family share, that are evident throughout most of the sagas and therefore important Viking qualities, are being proud, stubborn, determined, strong, poetic, difficult, short-tempered, loyal to friends, and having a strong intuition about the future.
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