Luck

Luck is a central motif in The Long Ships. Luck acts as a guiding force for all of Orm’s decisions. It is presented as an integral part of Viking culture and even takes precedent over the gods. Most of the time, Orm is a man of good luck. He credits all his accomplishments with this.

First, luck plays an important role in Orm’s initiation into Krok’s service. Despite Orm’s arrogance, Krok cannot but help recognize the boy’s inherent good luck. Krok remarks, “You are a conceited puppy, Skanian and fancy yourself a soldier. But you are yet young and lack a soldier’s prudence... But you seem to be a man whom Fortune smiles on, and it may be that you will bring us all into her good favor” (53). Thus, Krok’s faith in Orm’s luck essentially saves Orm’s...