HOW TO DO THINGS WITH GIFTS: GJAFA-REFS ÞÁTTR AND AUÐUNAR ÞÁTTR VESTFIRZKA

Resumo

Abstract: The aim of this article is to compare two short stories focused on gift-giving composed in medieval Iceland: Gjafa-Refs þáttr and Auðunar þáttr vestfirzka. Our hypothesis is that the texts, while sharing a similar narrative motif, represent different ideological stances that can be associated with the transformations undertaken by Icelandic society during the thirteenth-century. We argue that while the earlier Tale of Auðunn exemplifies a story of social rise based almost purely on personal qualities, the later Tale of Gift-Refr adds supraindividual conditions to explain the success of his main character, emphasizing good lineage and aristocratic patronage.

Keywords: Gifts- Medieval Iceland - SHORT Stories