Abstract:
In the multifaceted genre of the fornaldarsögur the subgroup labelled as Hrafnistumannasögur may be singled out for its focus on the progeny of illustrious people from the eponymous Norwegian island. Áns saga bogsveigis belongs to this cycle, despite being anomalous in many respects: it is demythologized and the protagonist is, apparently, a non-heroic chieftain. Moreover, it is the only fornaldarsaga that has an outlaw as its main character, a trait shared, however, with some of the Íslendingasögur, along with their structure of action. Hence, by exploiting this saga, I will try to demonstrate how the notion of ‘generic hybrids’ may favour the interpretation of these works, while providing the first translation of the text into Italian with a thematic, codicological, comparative and linguistic preface. A critical comment will follow, with particular attention to the medieval ‘polysystem’ that favoured the flourishing of such an adventurous narration. Light will be cast on patrons and audience, since a hermeneutical reading of the eclectic saga discloses the anti-royalism that imbues the story and sarcastically allows sagnaskemtan. I will conclude by mentioning how the translating process has been favoured by viewing the saga as a product of its time.
