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A SINGLE DETAIL CATCHES OUR ATTENTION in a somewhat conventional description of a young warrior who has a minor role in a medieval saga. This detail is unexpected and indeed unique in saga literature. "Hann ... kalladi mjok sinn pa, er hann taladi vid" (Sturlunga saga 1:351) ["he addressed many to whom he spoke as 'my'" (1:252)].1 The person described referred to those to whom he was talking as "Sturla minn," "Pordr minn," "Gizurr minn," etc. [my Sturla, my Pordr, my Gizurr], a form of endearment still used by many Icelanders. Nowadays, and in all probability in the thirteenth century as well, the use of this term would automatically give the audience an idea of what sort of a person he is. Today it suggests sentimentality and perhaps even over-familiarity, a pleasant and yet aggressive person who tries in a kindly manner to dominate and even possess his interlocutor.
The person thus described is in fact a brutal and ruthless killer whose main claim to fame is having taken part in a nocturnal assault on a quiet farm killing and wounding women, youngsters, and laborers. In light ofthat fact, his use of endearments when speaking to others creates an element of surprise since it is bound to counter the previous impression of the man. In addition, this person is a teenager: he is just eighteen years old. The aggressive familiarity of the endearment suggests self-confidence that would be atypical in a modern Icelandic teenager. We have no way of knowing whether the same conclusion can be drawn with regard to medieval Iceland, but, lacking evidence to the contrary, we might consider it likely. We also do not know exactly what to make of the phrase "pann er harnn taladi vid." Does that include everyone? Or did our hero spend most of his time among his peers? It would be unusual for a modern teenager to address adults outside of his immediate family in such a way. Even addressing his grandmother as "amma min" [my granny] would suggest a happy and confident teenager, accustomed to conversing with adults. In such a situation, it would imply equality. Using the term when speaking to those outside the inner circle of close friends and immediate family, e.g. someone one's...