Gripla - 01.01.1993, Page 62

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GRIPLA
The compiler has tried to assimilate the different sagas into a whole,
rewriting as little as possible, except where he has to shape them to fit
into his work, sometimes taking the text up more or less verbatim. The
compiler has, however, occasionally had to divide the works to fit
them into the correct chronological order, sometimes dropping pas-
sages from one, where two works relate the same thing. The compiler
has also written several sentences, passages and þættir, which are in-
terspersed throughout his work.
This kind of compilation or collection such as Sturlunga saga is al-
most unknown until a comparatively late stage in Icelandic literature;
so Sturlunga saga was most likely not compiled before ca. 1300.40
A close comparison between the text of Hrafns saga as taken up in-
to Sturlunga saga and the relevant text of Hrafns saga proper gives a
good idea of the compiler’s working methods and his treatment of his
material, since Hrafns saga is still extant as a separate saga.
The differences between the text of Hrafns saga as taken up into
Sturlunga saga and Hrafns saga proper are here divided into the fol-
lowing groups: I. Fuller reading in Sturlunga saga than in Hrafns saga
proper (either recension); II. Shorter texts in Sturlunga saga than in
Hrafns saga proper (as shown in HrsGPH); III. Different wording in
Sturlunga saga from that in Hrafns saga proper.
I. Fuller readings in Sturlunga saga
than in Hrafns saga proper (either recension)
In some instances the text in Sturlunga saga has a fuller reading than
either of the two recensions of Hrafns saga proper. In some of these
cases the fuller reading consists of only a few additional words which
do not change the context to any great extent. In other cases the fuller
reading contains information not found in Hrafns saga proper.
The fuller reading in Sturlunga saga falls mainly into four groups:
I a. Firstly, since the compiler of Sturlunga saga only takes the latter
half of Hrafns saga into his work, he adds information (on people),
given in the part of Hrafns saga not contained in his work. This kind of
40 Cf. Jón Jóhannesson, op. cit., pp. xvii, xix; for the date, ca. 1300, cf. also KSlund,
Sturlunga saga I, p. i.