Starkad and Bale
by Herman Hofberg · from Swedish fairy tales
Adapted Version
Long ago, in a land far away. Lived a very strong man. His name was Starkad. He was a great warrior. He had to leave his home. He went far north. He lived in Tuna. He was very strong. He had big muscles. He could lift heavy things. He lived alone in Tuna.
Starkad had a very good friend. His friend's name was Bale. Bale lived far away. He lived in Balbo. Balbo was nine miles away. Bale was also very strong. He had big muscles too. He could run very fast. They were good friends. They missed each other.
One morning, Starkad stood on a big hill. He looked far away. The sun was rising. He saw Balbo in the distance. He called out to Bale. His voice was very loud. "Bale, are you awake?" Starkad wanted meat. He was very hungry. He liked meat best. He only had fish to eat. He wanted Bale to bring him meat.
Bale heard Starkad's call. It was a very loud call. He smiled. He called back. His voice was also loud. "Yes, I am awake!" Bale said. "The sun and I wake up." Bale was a good friend. He always helped Starkad. He would bring meat. He liked to share.
Soon, Bale came to Tuna. He walked a long, long way. It took many hours. Bale was very strong. He did not get tired. He carried a big elk. He carried one elk under each arm. The elk were heavy. He brought them for Starkad. Starkad was happy.
Next morning, Bale stood on a big hill. He looked far away. The sun was rising. He saw Tuna in the distance. He called out to Starkad. His voice was very loud. "Starkad, are you awake?" Bale wanted fish. He was very hungry. He liked fish best. He only had meat to eat. He wanted Starkad to bring him fish.
Starkad heard Bale's call. It was a very loud call. He smiled. He called back. His voice was also loud. "Yes, I am awake!" Starkad said. "The sun and I wake up." Starkad was a good friend. He always helped Bale. He would bring fish. He liked to share.
Soon, Starkad came to Balbo. He walked a long, long way. It took many hours. Starkad was very strong. He did not get tired. He carried a big barrel of fish. He carried one barrel under each arm. The barrels were heavy. He brought them for Bale. Bale was happy.
This happened many times. Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. Bale brought meat. Starkad brought fish. They were good friends. They helped each other. They were the best of friends.
One evening, they were coming home. They had walked all day. A big black cloud came. It moved very fast. The sky grew dark. The wind blew hard. Thunder boomed loudly. Lightning flashed brightly. The storm was very strong. A very bright light flashed. It was very sudden. Starkad was gone.
Bale was very sad. His heart felt heavy. He missed his friend. He found a big hill. It was a quiet place. He buried his friend Starkad. He worked very hard. Bale put five big stones there. The stones were very heavy. It was a special place. It was for his friend. It was a place to remember.
Original Story
Starkad and Bale.
The renowned hero, Starkad, the greatest warrior of the North, had offended a princess, therefore had fallen under the displeasure of the king, to escape whose wrath he wandered northward, where he took up his abode at Rude in Tuna, and it is related in the folk stories that he then took the name of “Ala Dräng,” or “Rödu Pilt.”
In Balbo, nine miles distant, in the parish of Borgajö, dwelt another warrior, Bale, who was a good friend to Starkad, and a companion in arms.
One morning Starkad climbed to the top of Klefberg, in Tuna, and addressed Bale, thus:
“Bale in Balbo, are you awake?”
“Rödu Pilt,” answered Bale, nine miles away, “the sun and I always awake at the same time; but how is it with you?”
“Poorly enough! I have only salmon for breakfast, dinner and supper. Bring me a piece of meat.”
“All right!” replied Bale, and in a few hours arrived in Tuna with an elk under each arm.
The following morning Bale stood upon a mountain in Balbo and shouted:
“Rödu Pilt, are you awake?”
“The sun and I awake always at the same time,” answered Starkad, “but how is it with you?”
“Oh, I have nothing but meat to eat—elk for breakfast, elk for dinner and elk for supper, come, therefore, and bring me a fish.”
“All right,” said Starkad, and in a little while he was with his friend, bearing a barrel of salmon under each arm.
In this manner the warriors kept each other supplied with fresh game from forest and sea, meantime spreading desolation and terror through the country, but one evening as they were returning from a plundering expedition to the sea, a black cloud appeared, and it began to thunder and lighten. Both hastened on the way, but reached no further than to Vattjom, when Starkad was struck dead by lightning. His companion buried him in a hill around which he placed five stones, two at his feet, one at each shoulder and one at his head, marking to this day the grave of Starkad forty feet in length.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
The legendary warrior Starkad, exiled for offending a king, settles in Tuna and befriends Bale, another mighty warrior living nine miles away. They establish a routine of calling out to each other across the distance to request and exchange provisions: Bale brings elk to Starkad, and Starkad brings salmon to Bale, demonstrating their immense strength and friendship. Their activities, however, spread terror through the land. One evening, returning from a plundering expedition, Starkad is tragically struck dead by lightning. Bale buries his friend in a monumental grave marked by five stones, which remains to this day.
Themes
Emotional Arc
abundance to tragedy
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Starkad is a prominent figure in Norse mythology and legendary sagas, often depicted as a giant or a hero with immense strength and a long, tumultuous life. This particular tale is a localized folk story focusing on a specific episode of his life.
Plot Beats (12)
- Starkad, a great warrior, offends a king and is exiled, settling in Tuna under a new name.
- Starkad's friend and companion-in-arms, Bale, lives nine miles away in Balbo.
- One morning, Starkad calls out to Bale from a mountaintop, complaining about only having salmon to eat and asking for meat.
- Bale responds, stating he and the sun always wake together, and agrees to bring meat.
- A few hours later, Bale arrives in Tuna with an elk under each arm for Starkad.
- The next morning, Bale calls out to Starkad, complaining about only having elk to eat and asking for fish.
- Starkad responds similarly about waking with the sun and agrees to bring fish.
- Soon after, Starkad arrives with a barrel of salmon under each arm for Bale.
- This pattern of exchanging provisions continues, with the warriors spreading desolation through their activities.
- One evening, as they return from a plundering expedition, a black cloud appears, bringing thunder and lightning.
- Starkad is struck dead by lightning at Vattjom.
- Bale buries Starkad in a large hill, marking the grave with five stones, a monument forty feet in length.
Characters
Starkad ★ protagonist
A man of immense stature and powerful build, reflecting his legendary strength as the greatest warrior of the North. His frame is broad and muscular, suggesting a life of constant battle and physical exertion. He is likely tall and imposing, with a rugged, weather-beaten complexion from outdoor life.
Attire: Practical, durable clothing suitable for a wandering warrior in a northern climate. Likely a tunic of coarse wool or linen, possibly reinforced with leather, and sturdy trousers. He would wear heavy boots and a cloak for protection against the elements. Colors would be earthy and muted, like browns, greys, and dark greens.
Wants: To survive and thrive in his exile, maintain his strength and reputation, and enjoy the companionship of his friend Bale.
Flaw: His past offense against a princess, which led to his exile, suggests a potential impulsiveness or disregard for authority. He is also vulnerable to natural forces, as shown by his death by lightning.
He begins as an exiled warrior seeking refuge and sustenance. His arc is one of continued survival and partnership, ending abruptly with his death, becoming a legendary figure whose grave marks the landscape.
Resourceful, direct, somewhat demanding (as seen in his request for meat), loyal to his friend, and a formidable warrior. He is pragmatic and focused on survival and sustenance.
Image Prompt & Upload
A tall, powerfully built adult man with broad shoulders and a muscular frame, facing forward. He has a rugged, tanned complexion, a stern expression, and a thick, unkempt brown beard with streaks of grey. His long, wild brown hair reaches his shoulders. He wears a dark green wool tunic, reinforced with brown leather straps across the chest, sturdy grey linen trousers, and heavy brown leather boots. A thick, dark grey wool cloak is draped over his shoulders. He holds a large wooden barrel under each arm, both filled with fish. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Bale ◆ supporting
A warrior of significant strength and stature, comparable to Starkad, though perhaps slightly less legendary. He would possess a strong, athletic build, capable of carrying large game over long distances. His physique would reflect a life of hunting and combat.
Attire: Practical and durable warrior attire, similar to Starkad but perhaps with slight regional variations. A sturdy wool tunic, leather breeches, and strong boots would be typical. He might wear a simple leather vest or jerkin over his tunic. Colors would be natural and functional, like browns, forest greens, and greys.
Wants: To maintain his friendship with Starkad, ensure their mutual survival, and continue his life as a warrior and hunter.
Flaw: His loyalty to Starkad, while a strength, also ties him to Starkad's dangerous lifestyle and eventual fate. He is also vulnerable to the dangers of their plundering expeditions.
He remains a steadfast friend and companion throughout the story. His arc culminates in the solemn act of burying Starkad, marking the end of their shared adventures and his role as the keeper of Starkad's memory.
Loyal, reliable, strong, and resourceful. He is a good friend and companion, always ready to assist Starkad and share his provisions.
Image Prompt & Upload
A strong, athletic adult man with a robust build, facing forward. He has a tanned complexion, a determined expression, and short, dark brown hair. His face is clean-shaven. He wears a forest-green wool tunic, dark brown leather breeches, and sturdy brown leather boots. A simple, unadorned leather jerkin is worn over his tunic. He carries a large, deceased elk under each arm, its legs dangling. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Klefberg, Tuna
A prominent mountain peak in Tuna, offering a clear line of sight and sound to distant locations like Balbo.
Mood: Vast, open, slightly desolate but functional for communication
Starkad shouts to Bale across nine miles, requesting meat.
Image Prompt & Upload
A rugged, windswept mountain peak in a Nordic landscape, with exposed granite and sparse, hardy pine trees clinging to the slopes. The morning sun casts long shadows across the valleys below, and the sky is a clear, pale blue. The air feels crisp and vast, with a sense of immense distance. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Mountain in Balbo
Another prominent mountain in Balbo, nine miles from Tuna, used for long-distance communication.
Mood: Echoing, expansive, remote
Bale shouts to Starkad, requesting fish.
Image Prompt & Upload
A majestic, ancient mountain in a Nordic region, its summit covered in patches of hardy heather and lichen-covered rocks. The early morning light bathes the scene in a soft, golden glow, highlighting the contours of the distant, rolling hills. A vast, clear sky stretches overhead, suggesting an immense, open wilderness. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Vattjom (Starkad's Grave)
A location where Starkad was struck by lightning and subsequently buried. His grave is marked by five large stones, forming a mound forty feet in length.
Mood: Foreboding, tragic, solemn
Starkad is killed by lightning and buried by Bale, marking his final resting place.
Image Prompt & Upload
A desolate, windswept Nordic landscape at dusk, under a tumultuous sky filled with heavy, dark storm clouds. Jagged lightning illuminates the scene intermittently, revealing a freshly dug burial mound. Five massive, rough-hewn granite stones are carefully placed around the mound, two at one end, one at each side, and one at the other end, marking a grave of immense length. The ground is sparse with tough, low-lying vegetation. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
](/library-files/english/herman_hofberg/swedish_fairy_tales/b_lsbj_rn_1_xd32e2718/images/cover/cover_001.png?w=150)