SAGA-BOOK - Viking Society Web Publications

332 Saga-Book of the Viking Society
Elsewhere in the Saga, the supernatural, the magical
(they occur chiefly in the sections without an extant
source) playa different role. They are generally more or
less organic elements, not merely ornamental flourishes.
The magic potions, the shape-changing (with the possible
exception of the whole were-wolf episode) are essential to
the action, unless the story be radically altered. The
appearance of Odin at crucial moments, his gift of the
sword and his supervision of the disposal of Sintjotli's
body (was not Sintjotli the purest in blood of all Odin's
Volsung heroes?) are all part and parcel of the basic
narrative material.
It might be argued that the mention of kynfylgja (VS
5/27) is unnecessary, but it does provide an explanation
for Signy's evil premonitions. Again, the spddisir of
VS 20/12 explain how Sigmund remained unscathed.
Certainly the reference to the fact that the wolf who
devoured Sigmund's brothers was king Siggeir's mother,
a shape-changer, is by no means essential, though it is
a conventional and soothing explanation. But Brynhild's
fire surely is essential; some such barrier is indispensable.
The story of Fafnir's becoming a dragon was probably too
famous to be omitted, and being retained, mythological
references could not but make their appearance, and the
same applies to the conversation between Fafnir and
Sigurd. Again, Sigurd's understanding of the conversation
between the birds in Fm. could not be omitted since
Sigurd learns thereby of Regin's proposed treachery, and
of Brynhild. But Hogni's gratuitous reference to the
possibility of Brynhild's reincarnation is cut out (Sg.
45/5-6 : VS 60/rr - was this too unchristian?), so is the
description of Sigurd as Freys vinr in Sg. 24/7 (VS 58/32 ­
admittedly as a kenning it would have at any rate been
changed, mythological or not, see above), and even in Fm.
the reference to norna dam (Fm. rr/1-2 : VS 31/33),
Bilrost (Fm. 15/4 : VS 32/8), and Hugin (Fm. 35/6 : VS
34/rr) are omitted, as are incidental references to noms in