The Relation of the Hrólfs Saga Kraka and the Bjarkarímur to Beowulf A Contribution To The History Of Saga Development In England And The Scandinavian Countries

The work examines the tangled relationship between the Old English masterpiece Beowulf and two medieval Scandinavian narratives, the Hrólfs saga Kraka and the poetic Bjarkarímur. By tracing shared motifs, character types, and narrative structures, the author seeks to reveal how these texts may have influenced one another during the early medieval period. The study places this investigation within a broader scholarly conversation, acknowledging the contributions of leading experts in Anglo‑Saxon and Norse literature.

Focusing particularly on the Bóðvarsþáttr and Fróðaþáttr sections of the saga, the dissertation compares their episodes with analogous passages in Beowulf, drawing on a wide range of critical editions and linguistic notes. It also explores the transmission routes that could have carried stories across the North Sea, shedding light on the development of saga form in both England and Scandinavia. Readers interested in the evolution of heroic literature will find a clear, well‑documented argument that bridges two rich literary traditions.