My thesis aims to be the first sustained study of sound within the Medieval Icelandic Sagas, and examines how narrative use of noise portrays violence. Determining a methodology and recurring tropes and vocabulary for the ways in which the Icelandic Sagas employ noise to portray violence, both historical and fictional, will reveal the ways in which 13th and 14th century Icelanders responded to, legalised, and rewrote their own violent history. Although studies have been done on the dialogues in the Medieval Icelandic Sagas, no study has yet to be done on the sounds within them. This study will examine sounds from weapons, revenant, animals, nature, and nonverbal cries that warn of, accompany, or are as a result of acts of violence. Can noise itself become a weapon to be wielded by characters in the sagas? 

Biography 

George holds a B.A in English and Related Literature from the University of York, as well as an M.A in Medieval Literature and Languages from the University of York. She is currently researching for a PhD in Medieval Studies supervised by Professor Matthew Townend and Dr. Pragya Vohra. George is interested in Old Norse literature and culture, and has a general interest in the Medieval world. She is also currently learning Welsh.