Abstract
Draugar are among the several different supernatural creatures that appear in Saga Literature. Previous studies about draugar tend to use only a few primary sources, which has led to a great generalization about their nature. I propose that in sagas there are at least three different kinds of draugar, and each of these three creatures has its particular typology. Draugar is then, a collective noun for the undead in general, but not all the undead are of the same nature in sagas. In order to find this typology and the evolution in the concept of the draugar, this paper comprehends all the cases of contact with the 'undead' in the Sagas of Icelanders, Islendinga Thættir and most of the occurrences in the Heroic Sagas. This paper analyzes, first the mythical origin of draugar, based mainly on the anthropogonic myth. Then the study proceeds with the analysis of four different ways in which the dead manifested themselves within Midgardr. Three of these are corporeal manifestations, while the fourth is of an ethereal nature. Their particular typology is based on several different aspects: noun attached to the creature, activity, way of interaction with the living, resons to return from the death, physical nature and social status of the revenant. The final chapter is devoted to the study of the Eros and Tanatos in some draugar stories, in order to find out the role that sex had as a reason to come back from the death.