Studia Islandica - 01.06.1967, Side 119

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sagas and two law texts on the other. With the exception of the law
texts which he presumably knew Haukur shows familiarity with the
same works.
5. Some features in the saga and Hauksbók reveal that the author
and Haukur shared the same interests to a certain degree. Both e.g.
show an unusual awareness of matters connected with Ireland.
6. Since the preceding chapters show an obvious similarity be-
tween the author of Kjalnesinga saga and Haukur Erlendsson some
attempts are made to determine whether Haukur could be the author
of the saga. The available evidence does not, however, warrant such a
conclusion. It is more probable that the author and Haukur both reflect
the same learning and literary taste. Possibly both were associated
with the Augustinian house on Viðey.
7. According to some scholars Celtic influence can be detected in
Kjalnesinga saga. A closer examination reveals that some of their as-
sumptions are hardly tenable. The most important argument for Celtic
influence is, however, the father against son motif in the saga. This
version of the motif is in many ways similar to both the German Lay
of Hildebrand and the Irish AidedL Óenfir Aífe, one of the stories about
Cú Chulainn, either of which may be the indirect source of the Ice-
landic motif. There is, however, another episode in the saga which is
possibly also a motif and in that case can be identified with the Irish
story of how Cú Chulainn came to Emain Macha.
8. Excursus I. The life of Gizur galli (1269-1370) is re-examined
and the connections between him and Haukur Erlendsson are brought
to light. Some of the arguments used in chapter 6 are based on this.
9. Excursus II. A few of the problems connected with Celtic ele-
ments in Icelandic tradition are summarily treated in this chapter. An
attempt is made to distinguish between literary and oral elements. In
the case of oral elements it is difficult to determine when and by which
route they were brought to Iceland. To illustrate the problems several
examples are discussed.
10. Excursus III. According to Landnámabók a number of settlers
on and in the neighbourhood of Kjalarnes came from the Hebridees or
were Irish. Some evidence which may confirm this is discussed in this
chapter.