The Representation of Outlaws in Post-Classical Icelandic Sagas - A Comparative Approach to Grettis saga Ásmundarsonar and Króka-Refs saga

Abstract

This thesis is a comparative study of Grettis saga and Króka-Refs saga, two Icelandic Sagas from the 14th century. The aim of this study is to present these sagas in the context of historical, legal and cultural influences, and to discuss similarities and differences between them. Króka-Refs saga has been compared with other texts because of a great number of familiar patterns from other sagas. The thesis will present an argument, based ont he idea of Martin Arnold, who suggested that the constant marginal position of Refr has similarities to the life of an outlaw. My argument will suggest similar possibilities in order to explain the possible purpose of the creation of such text. The aim of this thesis is to define the place of Króka-Refs saga in the Icelandic literary corpus, and to understand why Refr is similar and at the same time different to the famous outlaw-heroes.