Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2011

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department / School

English

Abstract

This study focuses chiefly on elevating the status of females in Icelandic saga literature-specifically, Thorgerd Egilsdottir of Laxdaela saga and Signy the Volsung from Volsunga saga-from the traditional view of them holding supporting roles within their respective sagas to the hero of "hero" within the scholarship of Icelandic saga literature. It argues that if the daughters are the inheritors of their fathers' non-material traits, such as honor or decisiveness, and the fathers are members of the heroic tradition in the literature of medieval Iceland, then the daughters must also receive heroic recognition from modern scholars of the literature of medieval Iceland.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Sagas -- History and criticism

Old Norse literature -- History and criticism

Women in literature

Heroes in literature

Laxdæla saga

Völsunga saga

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

153

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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