The Wreath: Kristin Lavransdatter #1

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1920

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapters 1-4

Part 1, Chapters 5-7

Part 2, Chapters 1-4

Part 2, Chapters 5-8

Part 3, Chapters 1-4

Part 3, Chapters 5-8

Character Analysis

Themes

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Part 1, Chapters 5-7Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Jørundgaard”

Part 1, Chapter 5 Summary

After Kristin celebrates her 15th birthday, Lavrans—who by this time has become very wealthy—and his friend Sir Andres Gudmundsøn agree that Kristin should be betrothed to Sir Andres’ second son, Simon. Lavrans throws a celebratory banquet in the couple’s honor when he returns to Jørundgaard with Simon and Sir Andres. Though disappointed with the match at first, Kristin becomes accustomed to Simon’s demeanor and eventually feels “entirely satisfied” (62) with the arrangement. By this time, Ulvhild has grown, and while still permanently injured by the accident, she can walk using a crutch. Lavrans and Ragnfrid welcome one more child into the world, a daughter whom they name Ramborg.

That summer, Kristin’s childhood friend Arne Gyrdsøn leaves for the city of Hamar. Kristin does not reciprocate Arne’s feelings toward her, but Arne nevertheless crafts a sewing chest for Kristin so that she will have something to remember him by after he has left. Arne attempts to confess his love for Kristin, but she rebuffs him by stating that it would be useless for them to fall in love with one another. At this point, Kristin has become tired of Simon, saying in the end that she “would rather not have any man at all” (66). At that moment, Ulvhild, who is with Kristin, falls and hurts herself and they have to carry her back to the village.

Kristin wrestles with many feelings of guilt in regard to Ulvhild, even contemplating joining a convent to get a miracle from God for Ulvhild’s healing. Kristin realizes, however, that she can never do this on account of her love for the world. She begins to find Simon’s demeanor repugnant to her, feelings with which she struggles even though Simon sends her a gift of a pet dog.

Part 1, Chapter 6 Summary

Arne asks Kristin to meet him at the southern road out of town before he leaves. They meet at the appointed time despite the bad weather, and Kristin admits that she does love him and that she thinks that he would be a better husband than Simon. Heartbroken at Kristin’s confession—“I don’t know how I can ever be happy again in this world after today” (76)—Arne heads off down the road.

Kristin turns around and, as the weather is worsens, begins to head home in the dark. On her way, she is overtaken by Bentein Prestesran, Sira Eirik’s grandson, who is quite drunk. Kristin attempts to ignore his advances, but he gropes Kristin, knocking her to the ground in an attempted sexual assault. Knocking him to the ground with a rock, Kristin is able to escape. Terrified to be seen in her current state at home, she decides to go to Sira Eirik’s home to tell him what happened. He is not there when she arrives though Bentein’s mother Gunhild is there. Kristin demands that she ensure Bentein leaves the village as soon as possible, otherwise she threatens to tell her father exactly what happened.

Part 1, Chapter 7 Summary

During the Christmas season, Simon attempts to spend more time with Kristin, who by this point has come to see her relationship with him as an obligation. Kristin struggles with the aftermath of being assaulted, terrified by what has happened and reluctant to talk about it, lest Arne be blamed instead. Just a few days after Christmas, she and the rest of the village learn that Bentein killed Arne on New Year’s Eve after a fight in which Kristin had been the topic of conversation.

Bentein is arrested, excommunicated, and is awaiting a death sentence while Arne’s body had been returned to his hometown. Lavrans and Kristin travel to Arne’s home, where his body is waiting to be buried. Kristin is confronted by Arne’s mother, Inga, who had heard the gossip about the conversation her late son had with Bentein before he was killed. Arne’s mother accuses Kristin of seducing Arne, but Kristin protests, holding her hand to the candle flame to prove her innocence.

Kristin burns her hand, and Lavrans takes her home, demanding that she tell her mother nothing of the evening’s events. Afterwards, Kristin begs her father to send her away to a convent, and Lavrans and Simon agree that it seems the best thing to do for the time being. During the Lenten season, Kristin makes the journey south to the cloister.

Part 1, Chapters 5-7 Analysis

Chapter 4 begins with Kristin at age 15, skipping the years 11-14. Kristin has grown up to be “exceedingly beautiful” (62), and pressure falls upon her to marry since Ulvhild is injured and likely unmarriageable. For this reason, Ulvhild is likely to enter a convent, which is common at this time for young women with no prospect of marriage.

The primary conflict in this final part of Part 1 centers on Kristin’s relationship with her long-time friend Arne and the mixed feelings she has toward him. Having grown up with him, Kristin considers Arne more of a brother than a romantic interest, though it is clear that Arne does not feel the same way. Knowing that he is on the precipice of being sent away and that this will be his last opportunity to try to win Kristin’s heart, he confesses his feelings for her, asking why she should Simon, who he is sure has not captured Kristin’s attention.

Their conversation is interrupted by Ulvhild’s screams, and as Kristin helps her back to the village, Kristin confronts her feelings about Ulvhild and her lack of faith that a miracle could heal her sister. Kristin has enough self-knowledge by this point to realize that she is in love with the things of the world, but her lack of faith pains her.

When Arne confesses his love for Kristin one last time, Kristin tells him that she cannot go against her parents’ wishes even for a man that she loves since she could never love anyone enough to displease or contradict them. This is an ominous moment of foreshadowing because she will do precisely this with Erlend. Kristin’s refusal of Arne’s love sparks for the series of events that will occur in the rest of the novel.