Bovodar and the Bears Was Inspired By Vikings

Bodvar Bjarki in bear form fights in his last battle for King Hrólf.

Perhaps the following is an obscure fact for American audiences.  But Norwegians who've read Bovodar and the Bears instantly recognized the Norse themes woven throughout the story.  Most obvious to them is the very name of the protagonist: Bovodar Yarkery.  Perhaps to us Americans this sounds like I picked out a strange and contrived name.  However, a Norwegian native will instantly recognize the altered name of Bödvar Bjarki.  

"Who is Bödvar Bjarki," you ask?  This beloved figure is one of the main characters from The Saga of Hrólf Kraki.  This Old Norse tale is about the adventures of the legendary 5th century king, Hrólfr Kraki.  The character Bödvar Bjarki is one of Hrólfr's twelve great berserkers.  Many fantastic events and magical wonders transpire during this tale, involving treasure hunts, surprise attacks, trolls, other magical creatures, and a cleverly-disguised Odin.  As for Bödvar Bjarki, he had the power to shapeshift into a bear.  In fact, his name actually translates to "warlike little bear."  At one point in The Saga, Bödvar's body is actually asleep, while his spirit takes on the form of a bear who fights for Hrólfr against an army of fierce warriors, criminals, elves, and norns---all who were formerly hidden and empowered by the witchcraft of the half-elf, Skuld.  

With all of this talk about bears, berserkers, treasure hunting, magic, shapeshifting, and high adventure, it shouldn't be too hard now to understand what part of the world a lot of B&B's inspiration draws from.  And while it may be true that a lot of the geography and landscape of B&B borrows from the lands of the Western Hemisphere, it is clear that the characters and the story draws a lot of inspiration from the Old Norse legends and fairy tales of old.