Anonymous, Tóka þáttr Tókasonar

Piergiorgio Consagra (University of Iceland)

Ed. by Ármann Jakobsson, University of Iceland
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.3.4: Icelandic Writing and Culture.
Vol. editors: Ármann Jakobsson (University of Iceland), Nicole Kennedy (University of Newcastle), Sven Hakon Rossel (Universitat Wien), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jakob Stougaard-Nielsen (University College London)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1387 - 1395

Places

Iceland (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Prose Fiction Narrative

Resources

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Tóka þáttr Tókasonar

is an Icelandic short narrative preserved in a

codex unicus

, Flateyjarbók, (GKS 1005 fol.), a parchment manuscript from the late Middle Ages, written around the end of the 14th century (1387-1395). The text is embedded in the

Óláfs saga helga

, the saga about the Norwegian King Óláfr Haraldsson the Saint (r. 1015-1030).

Tóka þáttr Tókasonar

is otherwise only attested in much younger paper manuscripts from the beginning of the 18th century onwards, all deriving from the Flateyjarbók version.

An unknown man arrives at Óláfr helgi’s court at Sarpsborg. The guest is Tóki, son of Tóki the Old, and he asks the king for permission to remain at court. The king soon realises that Tóki is a wise man, as he answers all enquiries with great knowledge. One day,

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2092 words

Citation: Consagra, Piergiorgio. "Tóka þáttr Tókasonar". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 05 May 2025 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=41228, accessed 09 May 2025.]

Anonymous, Tóka þáttr Tókasonar

Dates

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