bear or the account in the _Hrólfssaga_ of Bjarki's fight with a winged
monster is the earlier version of the story has been the subject of much
discussion, as has also the possible identity of Bjarki's (Biarco's)
exploit with one or both of Beowulf's exploits (his slaying of Grendel
and the dragon). The latter problem is still further complicated by the
introduction of two beasts in the _Bjarkarímur_ where Saxo and the
_Hrólfssaga_ have only one, and the introduction in _Beowulf_ of
Grendel's mother, who makes her appearance in order to defend her
offspring and also is slain.

In this dissertation an attempt will not be made to clear up the whole
of this complicated matter. But an attempt will be made to solve some of
the problems involved. It will be shown that the stories in the
_Bjarkarímur_ of the slaying of the wolf and the bear at the court of
Hrolf Kraki[1] are based on the story in the _Hrólfssaga_ of the slaying
of the winged[2] monster. The explanation of the origin of the dragon
and the interpretation of the whole dragon story in the _Hrólfssaga_,
both of which have hitherto been wanting, will be given. From this it
will be seen that this story in the _Hrólfssaga_ is based on the story,
related in the second book of Saxo's _Gesta Danorum_[3], of Bjarki's
slaying the bear.

_Earlier Opinions in Regard to the_ BỌÐVARSÞÁTTR, _the_ BJARKARÍMUR,
_and Related Matters_.

Gisli Brynjulfsson, the first writer, apparently, to call attention to
the similarity between Beowulf's combat with Grendel and Bjarki's combat
with the winged monster, identified the story in the _Hrólfssaga_ of
Bjarki's fight with the winged monster with the story in _Beowulf_ of
Beowulf's fight with Grendel. That it was a sea-monster (havjætte) that