The Axe (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Sigrid Undset
- First Published: 1925
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Historical
- Time of Work: Late thirteenth century
- Setting: Norway
- Genres: Long fiction, Historical fiction
- Subjects: Love or romance, Murder or homicide, Marriage, Pregnancy, Thirteenth century, Norway or Norwegians
- Locales: Norway
Characters Discussed
Olav Audunsson, the master of Hestviken, who is betrothed to Ingunn Steinfinnsdatter from infancy. After slaying a kinsman of hers in a quarrel, Olav is proclaimed an outlaw, and thus is unable to marry Ingunn, though he has been sleeping with her. Returning home much later, he finds her pregnant by another man. He kills the man in secret—a deed he can never confess, lest disclosure of his motive result in Ingunn’s shame.
Steinfinn Toresson, the father of Ingunn and foster father of Olav. In love with a woman promised to another, he steals her...
[The entire page is 537 words long]
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