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Sonatorrek ("the irreparable loss of sons") is a skaldic poem in 25 stanzas by Egill Skallagrímsson (ca. 910–990). The work laments the death of two of the poet's sons, Gunnar, who died of a fever, and Böðvarr, who drowned during a storm. It is preserved in Egils saga Skalla-Grímssonar, ch. 78, which is included in the 14th-century compilation, Möðruvallabók. According to the saga, after Egill placed Böðvarr in the family burial mound, he locked himself in his bed-chamber, determined to starve himself to death. Egill’s daughter diverted him from this plan in part by convincing him to compose a memorial poem for Böðvarr, to be carved on a rune-staff. ==Structure and content of the poem== ''Sonnatorrek'' is composed in kviðuháttr, a relatively undemanding meter which Egill also employed in his praise-poem, ''Arinbjarnarkviða''. ''Sonatorrek''’s 25 stanzas progress through seven stages:〔Following E.O.G. Turville-Petre, ''Scaldic Poetry'' (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1976; ISBN 0-19-812517-8), pp. 24-25.〕 * st. 1-4: Egill struggles to find words to express his grief; he laments the end of his family line. The fourth stanza introduces the imagery of wood and trees representing the family that is maintained throughout the poem. * st. 5: The poet recalls the death of his parents. * st. 5-12: Egill relates his grief over Böðvarr’s death; using the image of the sea breaking a cruel gap in the “fence of his kinsmen” (frændgarðr).〔Lee M. Hollander (1936), p.7.〕 The poet would like to take vengeance on the sea-deities Ægir and Rán, but as an old man without followers he is helpless against them. * st. 13-19: The death of Egill’s older brother, Thórólfr, is now recalled. Since Thórólfr fell, Egill has grown lonely and lacks support in combat. * st. 20-21: The poet briefly recalls Gunnar, his first son, who died of a fever. * st. 22-24: Egill now turns on Óðinn, with whom he had been on good terms until the god broke their friendship. Yet on reflection, the poet recognizes that Óðinn has given him two gifts in compensation for the two sons he has taken: the craft of poetry and the ability to turn deceivers into open enemies. * st. 25: Finally, Egill reconciles himself to his loss, awaiting death with tranquility. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Sonatorrek」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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