Margþættar

Margþættar is a term in Icelandic literary discourse used to describe subplots or marginal episodes within a narrative. The standard Icelandic form is margþættir, with the singular margþáttur. The variant margþættar may appear in some texts, but margþættir is the common plural used in contemporary criticism.

In practice, margþættir are secondary storylines that run alongside the main plot. They can deepen characterization, expand the fictional world, or offer alternative perspectives without being essential to the central outcome. Margþættir may intersect with the main narrative at key points or diverge to create contrasts in tone, setting, or thematic focus.

In modern literature, film, and television, margþættir are often employed to broaden scope, enhance pacing, or explore issues such as social relations, memory, or moral ambiguity. They can provide comic relief, foreshadow events, or illuminate backstory that enriches the reader’s or viewer’s understanding of the principal characters and central conflicts.

Analytically, margþættir are evaluated for how well they integrate with the main narrative, whether they complement or complicate it, and how they affect the coherence and unity of the work. The concept is related to subplots, parallel narratives, and digressions found in other literary traditions.

See also: subplot, parallel narrative, digression.