refers to Mogk as believing that the Bjarki story in the saga is a
werewolf myth into which the Grendel motive is woven.[32] He quotes a
passage from Heusler, in which Heusler states that he regards the story
in the _Bjarkarímur_ of the fight with the bear as earlier than the
story in the saga of the fight with the winged monster and that,
furthermore, Beowulf's fight with Grendel has been transferred to
Bjarki.[33] Lawrence also calls attention to the fact that Gering thinks
there is unmistakable similarity between the Grendel story and the story
of Bjarki's fight with the winged monster.[34]

Friedrich Panzer identifies Bjarki with Beowulf and regards the story in
question in the _Hrólfssaga_ as a later composition than the
corresponding stories in the _Bjarkarímur_, which he identifies with the
Grendel story.[35] "Gylden hilt" he identifies with Gullinhjalti;[36]
and Hott-Hjalti, whom Sarrazin regards as a personification of swords in
_Beowulf_, he identifies with Hondscio, Beowulf's companion who is
devoured by Grendel.[37]


_The Story in the_ HRÓLFSSAGA _of Bjarki's Slaying the Winged Monster_.

It appears to the writer that the key to the explanation of much that
has been the subject of dispute, or has remained unexplained, in the
story about Bothvar Bjarki in the _Hrólfssaga_ is the influence of the
fictitious (in part, also historical) life of Siward, Earl of
Northumberland under Canute the Great and succeeding kings.

The life of Siward, briefly summarized from the _Dictionary of National
Biography_,[38] is as follows.