The monograph provides a comparative typological description of verbal duels presented in ancient Germanic literature (Old German, Anglo-Saxon, Scandinavian), establishes their continuity with oral tradition, identifies two main types of altercations with their structural, semantic and stylistic features, and outlines their evolution from a brief exchange of remarks between two opponents to a strictly regulated scene, in late medieval literature extending to a theme that permeates the entire poem. Table of contents: Introduction 5Chapter 1. Quarrel in medieval German epic and in Russian epics 8Chapter 2. Quarrel in Old English poetry 41Chapter 3. Quarrel in Old Norse literature 53 "Elder Edda" 54 Saxon Grammar. “Acts of the Danes” 77 Sagas about ancient times 87 Sagas about Icelanders 105 Royal sagas 123 Sagas about bishops 138 Chapter 4. Women's feud 144 Hallgerd and Bergthora 145 Gudrun and Brynhild 149 Chapter 5. The fate of the squabble in late medieval German literature (XIV-XV centuries .) 186Squabble During Battle: King Arthur and Lucius 186Squabble as entertainment: Dunbar and Kennedy 193Conclusion 207Notes 223References 249Index of names 259Index of works 263Summary 271