The Unusual Protagonist of the Grettir SagaThe decision to make Grettir the protagonist of the Grettir Saga is an interesting if not unusual choice on the part of the author(s). Examining this atypical choice says a lot about 13th-century Icelandic society, when the saga is believed to have been written, as well as 10th-century Icelandic society, when most of the saga's action takes place. Before we begin From Grettir's analysis and examination, however, it is important to understand what a saga is and the purpose it serves. The author of Grettir's Saga is unknown. In fact, there is actually more than one author. The sagas were written no earlier than the 13th century, but cover events that occurred even before the founding of Iceland between 830 and 950 (Hastrup 150-51). The reason for this discrepancy is that the sagas began as oral histories. The sagas were passed down orally from generation to generation until they were written down in the 13th century. This is why there are actually multiple authors in the saga. Every time the saga was told, it wasn't exactly the same thing. As the narrators changed, so did some of the events of the saga. Although the changes made to the saga by the storytellers have not been significant in changing its overall meaning, they have the ability to improve some of Grettir's exploits, attacking the credibility of the story if one dwells on it. However, even though some events may not be entirely true, the message that Grettir portrays and the issues he represents are true and accurate. It is important to remember that the saga was considered a story, but was not intended to be used as a primary source of information. It served best when considered a vehicle for carrying traditional wisdom based on historical knowledge (Hastrup 143). Grettir was an unusual choice as the protagonist because he was an outlaw. He did not possess many heroic qualities and was not the typical protagonist that many characters in the novel or saga liked. Grettir was actually disliked by many and was constantly in trouble with the law. Grettir's exploits were at times humane and bordered on heroism, but his misdeeds weighed heavily against him. The authors of the saga took the opportunity by using Grettir as the protagonist.