Gods and
Monsters
A Study of Norse
Mythology
Week 4:
February 6th, 2015
The runestone at Drävle, Sweden, depicting scenes
from the Sigurd legend.
This Week
•Any questions from last week?
•An example of Skaldic poetry in Old Norse
•Construction of a Skaldic stanza
•New for this week:
•A look at the Sigurd story from different angles
•“Otter’s ransom” from the Snorra Edda
•Atlakviða from the Poetic Edda
•Imagery
A Skaldic Stanza
Part of a poem praising the Norwegian King Olaf Tryggvason (r. 995-1000) ,by the
poet Hallfreðr vandræðskáld (‘troublesome poet’), cite in Snorri Sturluson’s The Saga
of Olaf Tryggvason, part of the wider compilation Heimskringla (c. 1230).
The foes of the bow-string
caused the island army and the Irish to die.
The Týr of precious swords
was eager for glory.
The prince beat the inhabitants of the “British” land
and felled the Cumbrian peoples.
Hunger diminished
for the osprey of the storm of spears.
Foes of the bow-string = warriors
Týr of precious swords = warrior
Storm of spears = battle; its osprey = raven (beast of battle)
Translation by Anthony Faulkes in New Introduction to Old Norse Part II: Reader (London: Viking Society for Northern
Research, 4th edn. 2007), p.94
A Skaldic Stanza
Ýdrógar lét œgir
eyverskan her deyja
-- Týr ver tjǫrva dýrra
tírar gjarn – ok Íra.
Barði brezkrar jarðar
byggvendr ok hjó tyggi,
-- gráðr þvarr geira hríðar
gjóði – kumrskar þjóðir.
A Skaldic Stanza
Ýdrógar lét œgir
eyverskan her deyja
-- Týr ver tjǫrva dýrra
tírar gjarn – ok Íra.
Barði brezkrar jarðar
byggvendr ok hjó tyggi,
-- gráðr þvarr geira hríðar
gjóði – kumrskar þjóðir.
Alliteration
A Skaldic Stanza
Ýdrógar lét œgir
eyverskan her deyja
-- Týr ver tjǫrva dýrra
tírar gjarn – ok Íra.
Barði brezkrar jarðar
byggvendr ok hjó tyggi,
-- gráðr þvarr geira hríðar
gjóði – kumrskar þjóðir.
Alliteration
Internal rhyme
Atlakviða, from the Poetic Edda
Dramatis Personnæ
The Niflungs (“Burgundians”)
-Giúki: the ancestral king of the
Niflungs
-Gunnarr: the current king of the
Niflungs
-Hǫgni: his younger brother, an
important leader in his own right
-Fjörnir: a retainer
-Guðrún: their sister, married to the
Hunnish king Atli
-Hialli: a retainer, renowned for his
cowardice
The Huns
-Atli: King of the Huns (“Attila”)
-Knéfrøðr: a messenger
-Bikki: Ancestral leader of the Huns
-Erpr and Eitill: sons of Atli and
Guðrún
-Buðli: another ancestral leader of
the Huns
Atlakviða, from the Poetic Edda
Synopsis
Atli invites Gunnarr and Hogni, lords of the Niflungs, to his kingdom, intending to kill
them. Atli wants to get his hands on the treasure from Gnita Heath, which is in the
Niflungs’ possession. Their sister Guðrun attempts to warn them, but they come
anyway. They are killed by Atli and his men. Gunnarr says that he will not “pay with
gold” (divulge the location of the treasure) until his brother’s hear lies in his hand.
Hogni’s heart is cut out, and then, sure that the secret is now safe with him alone,
Gunnarr refuses to reveal it. He is killed by being thrown into a pit of snakes. Brave in
the face of danger, he plays his harp as he dies. Guðrun feigns to congratulate Atli on
his victory against her brothers, but gets her revenge on him by killing his (and her)
sons and serving them at the victory feast. Having got Atli drunk during the feast, he is
unable to defend himself when Guðrun stabs him to death in bed after the feast. She
distributes the Huns’ treasure amongst the servants and sets them free, before
burning down the king’s hall with all others inside. Thus she atoned for the murder of
her brothers.
Otter’s Ransom from Snorri Sturluson’s Edda
Dramatis Personnæ
The Gods (the Æsir) etc.
-Odin: the chief god.
-Loki: the mischief-maker, kills the
otter.
-Hænir: one of the Æsir.
-Andvari: shape-shifting Dwarf smith,
captured by Loki whilst in the shape
of a fish, pronounces curse on the
gold.
Hreidmar’s Kin
-Hreidmar: powerful farmer
magician, father of Otter, Regin and
Fafnir. Killed by Regin and Fafnir for
the treasure.
-Otter: Hreidmar’s shape-shifting son,
killed by Loki.
-Regin: son of Hreidmar. Becomes
craftsman/smith to King Hialprek.
Fosters Sigurd. Killed by Sigurd.
-Fafnir: son of Hreidmar. Steals the
treasure and becomes a dragon to
protect it on Gnita-heath. Killed by
Sigurd.
Dramatis Personnæ
The Volsungs
-Volsung: Sigurd’s paternal grandfather.
-Eylimi: Sigur’s maternal grandfather.
-Sigmund: Sigurd’s father.
-Hiordis: Sigurd’s mother.
-Sigurd: Hero, killer of Fafnir and Regin.
Married to Gudrun, father of Sigmund and
Svanhild. Father of Aslaug. Wins Brynhild for
Gunnar. Killed by Gothorm by the scheming of
Brynhild, Gunnar and Hogni. Kills Gothorm.
-Sigmund (2): Son of Sigurd and Gudrun, killed
by Gothorm.
-Svanhild: Daughter of Sigurd and Gudrun.
Moves across the sea with Gudrun. Wooed by
Randver, married to Iormunrekk and trampled
to death by Iormunrekk’s forces. Avenged by
Gudrun’s and Ionakr’s sons.
-Aslaug: Daughter of Sigurd, raised in the home
of Heimir in Hlymdales.
The Giukungs/Niflungs
-Giuki: King. Father of Gunnar, Hogni, Gudrun
and Gudny, step-father of Gothorm. Married to
Grimhild.
-Grimhild: Married to Giuki. Mother of
Gothorm?
-Gunnar: Married to Brynhild. Refuses to kill
Sigurd. Killed by Atli by being thrown into a
snake-pit. Plays the harp with his feet to
appease the snakes.
-Hogni: Refuses to kill Sigurd. Killed by Atli by
having his heart cut out. Has a son who
avenges him with Gudrun.
-Gothorm: Incited by Gunnar and Hogni to kill
Sigurd. Killed by Sigurd.
-Gudrun: Married to Sigurd (mother of
Sigmund and Svanhild), then to Atli (has two
sons), then to Ionakr (mother of Sorli, Hamdir
and Erp). Avenges her brothers by slaughtering
Atli, his sons and his retinue. Attempts suicide
but ends up in Ionakr’s kingdom. Has her sons
avenge Svanhild by killing Iormunrekk.
Dramatis Personnæ
The “Huns”
Iormunrekk’s Kin
-Budli: Father of Atli and Brynhild.
-Atli: King, bother of Brynhild. Marries Gudrun
after the death of Sigurd. Father of two sons by
Gudrun. Kills Gunnar and Hogni. Killed by
Gudrun and Hogni’s son.
-Brynhild: (aka Hild) A Valkyrie. Married to
Gunnar. Masterminds the death of Sigurd, then
commits suicide.
-Iormunrekk: a King across the sea. Father of
Randver. Marries Svanhild. Has Randver killed
over his affections for Svanhild. Tramples
Svanhild to death. Is mutilated by Sorli and
Hamdir.
-Randver: son of Iormunrekk. Wooes Svanhild
on the advice of Bikki. Is killed by his father.
-Bikki: a treacherous adviser who brings about
the death of Randver and Svanhild.
Ionakr’s Kin
-Ionakr: a king across the sea. Marries Gudrun
after the massacre of Atli & co. Father of Sorli,
Hamdir and Erp.
-Sorli: Son of Ionakr and Gudrun. Kills his
brother Erp. Attacks Iormunrekk but is killed in
the process.
-Hamdir: Son of Ionakr and Gudrun. Kills his
brother Erp. Attacks Iormunrekk but is killed in
the process.
-Erp: Son of Ionakr and Gudrun. Killed by his
brothers Sorli and Hamdir.
Other Humans
-Hialprek: a king. Regin becomes his
craftsman/smit.
-Himir: raises Sigurd’s daughter Auslaug.
Otter’s Ransom from Snorri Sturluson’s Edda
Synopsis
On a journey with other gods, Loki kills an otter who is actually the shape-shifting son
of the magician Hreidmar. In order to pay compensation and ransom the lives of the
guilty gods, Loki steals treasure from the dwarf Andvari, who places a curse upon the
treasure. Hreidmar’s two other sons, Regin and Fafnir, kill their father for the treasure,
then fall out with each other. Fafnir steals the treasure and brings it to Gnita heath,
and turns into a dragon to guard it. Regin becomes a smith in the court of King
Hialprek, and fosters the hero Sigurd, son of Sigmund, son of Volsung. He trains Sigurd
to kill Fafnir, planning in turn to kill Sigurd and to get the treasure for himself. Sigurd
learns of Regin’s plan and kills him, taking the treasure for himself. After some petty
family intrigues, Gunnarr and Hogni, brothers of Gudrun, Sigurd’s wife, contrive to
have Sigurd killed. They take the treasure for themselves. Atli, king of the Huns and
brother in law to Gunnarr through his first wife Brynhild, marries the widowed
Gudrun. Atli invites Gunnarr and Hogni to his kingdom with the intent of getting the
location of the treasure from them, but they have hidden it in the Rhine. Atli has
Gunnarr and Hogni killed, and Gudrun exacts her terrible revenge. She tries to kill
herself by drowning but floats (with her daughter Svanhild) to the land of king Inoakr...
Otter’s Ransom from Snorri Sturluson’s Edda
Synopsis
Ionakr marries Gudrun and they have three sons, Sorli, Hamdir and Erp. Another king,
Iormunrekk, falls in love with Svanhild, but she loves his son Randver. Iormunrekk has
Randver killed and has Scanhild trampled to death. Gudrun incites her sons o kill
Iormunrekk in revenge. But Sorli and Hamdir have idiotically killed Erp, and without
his help, their venture fails (though Iormunrekk is maimed) and they too are killed. The
tale ends with accounts of the scattered survivors.
Genealogies
Volsung
Sigmund
Hreidmar
Eylimi
Hiordis
Budli
Grimhild
Gothorm
Hogni
Regin
Giuki
Gunnarr
Brynhild
Atli
(2)
Fafnir
Otter
Ionakr
(3)
Gudrun
A son
(1)
Sigurd
Heimir
Aslaug
Two sons*
The Giukungs/Niflungs
The Volsungs
The “Huns”
Ionakr’s Kin
Iormunrekk’s Kin
Hreidmar’s Kin
Heimir
Marriage
Fostering
* Gudrun’s children
Iormunrekk
Randver
Svanhild*
Sigmund*
Sorli*
Hamdir*
Erp*
Kennings
Gold
Otter-payment
The Æsir’s forced payment
Strife-metal
Lair/abode of Fafnir
Metal of Gnita-heath
Burden of Grani
Fafnir’s legacy
Niflungs’ treasure/inheritance
Man/Warrior
Ring-spoiler (a generous man)
Attack-elf
Sword-sail mast (a sword-sail is a shield, its mast is a warrior)
Bird-hild’s delight (Bird-hild is ‘Swan’-hild, or Svanhild, her delight is her husband, a man)
Dark-shirt’s birch (a dark-shirt is a coat of mail, its birch is a warrior)
Heart
Life-steak
Lord/King
Men’s ale-giver
Steel-torrent impeller (a steel-torrent is battle, its impeller is a lord or king)
Kennings
Blood
Corpse-dew
The God Thor
Lit’s men’s fight-challenger (Lit’s men are giants, their fight-challenger or opponent is Thor)
The Midgard Serpent
Coiling eel of the Volsungs’ drink (The Volsungs’ drink is poison, its coiling eel is a serpent)
Shield
Leaf of Leifi’s lands (Leifi’s lands are the sea, its leaf is a shield)
Bed
Floor-horse-tub (a floor-horse (a horse that has a floor?!) is a house, its tub is a bed)
Rocks
Hergaut’s woman-friend’s hard shoulder-lumps (Hergaut is another name for Odin, his woman-friend/love
is the Earth, the hard shoulder-lumps of the Earth are rocks)
The Treasure
Andvari
Loki
(it’s HIS gold!)
Steals it all
Hreidmar
Receives it as payment
for Otter’s death
Fafnir
Gunnar
And
Hogni
Sigurd
Have Sigurd killed
and take the treasure
Tossed
Into
The
Rhine!
(it’s there still!)
Kills Fafnir (then Regin)
and takes the treasure
Kills his father, steals the
treasure, keeps it from his
brother Regin and turns into a
dragon to protect it on Gnitaheath
The Ramsund Stone
Södermanland, Sweden, 11th century
The Ramsund Stone
Södermanland, Sweden, 11th century
Can you spot the elements of the story?
The Gök Stone, Södermanand,
Sweden, early early 11th century
The Drävle Stone
Uppland, Sweden, early 11th
century
The Drävle Stone
Uppland, Sweden, early 11th
century
The Hunninge Picture Stone, Gotland,
Sweden, 8th -9th century
The Hunninge Picture Stone, Gotland,
Sweden, 8th -9th century
The Hunninge Picture Stone, Gotland,
Sweden, 8th -9th century
Baptismal font from Norum, Bohuslän, Sweden, 12th century
Hylestad stavechurch portal, Norway, c. 1200
Gunnar plays the harp with his feet in the snake-pit
Sigurd tests his sword on Regin’s anvil
Hylestad stavechurch portal, Norway, c. 1200
Regin re-forges Sigurd’s sword
Sigurd kills the dragon Fafnir
Hylestad stavechurch portal, Norway, c. 1200
Sigurd sucks his thumb after burning it on the
roasting dragon heart (notice the birds in the tree!)
Sigurd kills Regin
Hylestad stavechurch portal, Norway, c. 1200
The horse Grani loaded with treasure
The Sigurd Story
(medieval occurrences)
•Poetic Edda (at least 15 poems!)
•Prose Edda
•Völsunga saga
•Þiðrekssaga
•The Nibelungenlied