Grettis Saga - Overview

Overview

The saga is categorised as one of the Sagas of Icelanders (Íslendingasögur) all of which were written in the thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries and are fairly realistic accounts of events taking place between the ninth and the eleventh century in Iceland. The subject of such texts is usually conflicts over wealth, prestige, and power.

The author is unknown but it is believed that his story may have been based on a previous account of Grettir's life written by Sturla Þórðarson.

Grettir's intentions are not necessarily bad, but he is ill-tempered and often does things that he later regrets: he is also very unlucky, so some of his actions have severe, unintended consequences. Grettir spends most of his adult life in Iceland as an outlaw although he sails twice to Norway. He was related to King Olaf who Christianized Norway. But in Norway too he gets into trouble and is sent away. He is not involved in the viking raids that many other saga-heroes take part in.

Read more about this topic:  Grettis Saga