The Saga of the Volsungs
Notes compiled by Nicole J. Wallace Copyrighted 2000
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I. Odin guides Sigi from the Other World
Sigi kills his thrall Bredi. His dead body is found in a snow bank. Odin sends Sigi away. Sigis's son Rerir avenges his father - who was killed by Rerir's maternal uncles. Frigg gives Rerir and his wife a magic apple and she conceives.
II. The Birth of Volsung
Rerir dies. Baby is cut out of his wife after she is pregnant for six years. Her son, Volsung, age six at birth, kisses his mother before she dies.
Volsung and Hljod
10 sons and one daughter; Sigmund and Signy twins
III. Sigmund draws the Sword from Barnstock
King Siggeir asks for Signy's hand in marriage. At the feast, Odin, in disguise, puts a sword in the tree Barnstock. Sigmund pulls it out. Siggeir offers to pay for it but Sigmund refuses. Siggeir plots revenge.
IV. Siggeir Plots Revenge
Signy foresees the trouble her marriage will cause. Siggeir invites Volsung to stay with him.
V. The Fall of Volsung
Signy warns them that it is a trap. Volsung is killed and his tens sons were put in stocks. A she-wolf would come at night and eat them one at a time. Signy puts honey on Sigmund's face. When the wolf comes, he bites her tongue and breaks free.
VI. Signy Plots Revenge
Signy sends her sons to Sigmund. He kills them because they're cowards.
VII. Signy Gives Birth to Sinfjotli
Signy changes shapes with a sorceress and sleeps with Sigmund. She gets pregnant. When the son is older, she sends him to Sigmund and Sinfjotli proves to be brave.
VIII. Sigmund and Sinfjotli Don the Skins
Magic wolf skins that can be shed every tenth day lay in this house. They put them on and go on a rampage, howling if they needed help. Sinfjotli attacks eleven men. Sigmund bites him for not calling for help but then uses a magic lead to cure him. They attempt to attack the King who then buries them alive. Sigmund uses his sword to cut himself out of the mound. They burn the castle down and Signy goes with it because she felt herself a disgrace to the Volsung race.
IX. Helgi marries Sigrun
Helgi kills many men and sees Sigrun, follows her home, challenges her suitor, and wins the kingdom.
X. Concerning the Volsungs
Sinfjotli kills his uncle because he wants to girl he was engaged to. The queen poisons Sinfjotli to death because he killed her brother. Sigmund drives the queen out.
XI. Sigmund marries Hjordis
And then dies in battle against her other suitor.
XII. Hjordis Remarries
The dying Sigmund informs her she is pregnant. She marries King Alf.
XIII. The Birth of Sigurd
Regin, his foster-father, teachers him many things and manipulates him to kill Fafnir.
XIV. The Otter's Ransom
See the Prose Edda
XV. Regin fashions Gram
The first time it breaks. Sigurd then brings the broken sword Gram to Regin who makes it into a sword again.
XVI. Gripir Foretells Sigurd's Future
XVII. Sigurd Kills Lyngvi and Hjorvard and all the Others
Sigurd seeks revenge on the Hundings.
XVIII. Regin and Sigurd Go Riding
Sigurd digs a series of ditches (at the discretion of an old man, Odin) and hides. He ends up killing Fafnir who informs him that Regin will kill Sigurd also and whomever possesses the gold shall die.
XIX. Regin drinks Fafnir's Blood
Sigurd gets a little on his thumb and sucks it. He could then understand the speech of birds.
XX. Sigurd Eats Fafnir's Heart
The birds inform him that Regin wishes to betray him. He kills Regin. He then goes to claim the gold.
XXI. Concerning Sigurd
He finds a solider lying there. He removes the mail coat to discover she is a woman. She is called Brynhild. They fall in love. (or rather he falls in love with her wisdom)
XXII. Brynhild's Wise Counsel
She gives him advice.
XXIII. Concerning Sigurd's Appearance
Sigurd now dressed with a shield of gold with a dragon emblem and always at his finest.
XXIV. Sigurd comes to Heimir
Heimir is the brother in law and foster father of Brynhild.
XXV. The Conversation between Sigurd and Brynhild
Brynhild and Sigurd fall in love but she predicts that he will marry Gudrun. They vowed only to love each other.
XXVI. Concerning King Gjuki and His Sons
King Gjuki
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Gunnar Hogni Guttorm Gudrun
Gudrun has dreams and visits Brynhild. She is informed that Sigurd is the greatest.
XXVII. Brynhild Interpret's Gudrun's Dream
Brynhild informs Gudrun she will marry Sigurd, Brynhild's love.
XXVIII. The Ale of Forgetfulness is blended for Sigurd
Grimhild creates an Ale of Forgetfulness so Sigurd would forget Brynhild and marry Gudrun.
XXIX. Sigurd Rides Through the Wavering Flames of Brynhild, Daughter of Budli
Gunnar wants Brynhild as his wife but she'll only take whoever can ride through her flames. Sigurd changes forms with Gunnar and rides through the flames. She then marries Gunnar.
XXX. Dispute of the Queens, Brynhild and Gudrun
The two queens dispute over whose husband is better. They then insult each other.
XXXI. Brynhild's Grief only Increases
Brynhild takes to her bed in isolation. Finally Sigurd visits her and offers to make amends but she refuses. She then sets it up so Gunnar would seek revenge on Sigurd.
XXXII. The Betrayal of Sigurd
Since most of the brothers were bound by blood, they encouraged Guttorm to kill Sigurd. Guttorm finally succeeds and Brynhild rejoices in Gudrun's suffering. Brynjild tries to kill herself to punish Gunnar and tells him the future.
XXXIII. Brynhild's Request
She requests to be burnt with Sigurd.
XXXIV. The Disappearance of Gudrun
Gudrun journeys off. Grimhild gives her the ale of forgetfulness and foresees a marriage to King Atli. She marries Atli.
XXXV. Gudrun carves Runes
Atli dreams Gudrun stabs him. Gudrun carves runes to protect her brothers but the runes are rewritten. Her brothers then come to visit Atli.
XXXVI. Hogni Interprets his Wife's Dream
He always interprets the dream better than it really is.
XXXVII. The Brother's Journey from Home
Gunnar's wife shares her dreams also. The men leave and when they arrive at Atli's, they realize their mistake.
XXXVIII. The Battle in the Fortress and the Victory
The battle breaks out and Gudrun tries to fight on behalf of her brothers.
XXXIX. Hogni is Captured
Gunnar and Hogni are the only two left standing. Gunnar is captured and fettered. They offer to kill a cowardly thrall instead but Hogni capitulates and saves the thrall's life. Hogni is then put in fetters. Atli's men torture and kill them.
XXXX. The Conversation between Atli and Gudrun
Gudrun prepares a funeral feast for her brothers. She kills her two sons and Atli unaware, eat them. Hogni's sons kill Atli. Gudrun then burns the castle down.
XXXXI. Concerning Gudrun
She marries King Jonakr.
XXXXII. Svanhild is married and Trampled to Death under Hooves of Horses.
XXXXIII. Gudrun urges her sons to avenge Svanhild
She sends her sons and laments on her life.
XXXXIV. Concerning the sons of Gudrun. The Final Chapter
They avenge their sister but then are all killed.