The Saga of Grettir the Strong (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: n/a
- First Published: 1300
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Folklore
- Time of Work: Eleventh century
- Setting: Iceland, Norway, and Constantinople
- Genres: Long fiction, Adventure, Folklore
- Subjects: Folkloric or magical people, Murder or homicide, Revenge, Sailing or sailors, Witches or witchcraft, Shipwrecks, Heroes or heroism, Outlaws, Middle Ages, Turkey or Turkish people, Norway or Norwegians, Demoniac possession, Vikings, Iceland or Icelanders, Eleventh century
- Locales: Constantinople, Norway, Iceland
Characters Discussed
Grettir the Strong, a folk hero of Iceland. Outlawed at fourteen after killing a man, he goes to Norway, where he routs a party of berserk raiders. Acclaimed as a hero, he becomes increasingly involved in murderous feuds, particularly after his return to Iceland. At last, able to trust no one because of the price on his head yet tormented by a growing fear of the dark that makes it impossible for him to live alone, he settles with a brother and a servant on an island accessible only by rope ladders. Several years later, he is overcome by witchcraft and...
[The entire page is 1011 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
