the völsunga saga

Chapter Breakdown:
THE VÖLSUNGA SAGA
OUTLINE
1-12 Sigurd’s Genealogy in Narrative Form
13-25 Sigurd’s Birth and Youthful Exploits
26-33 Sigurd’s Marriage to Gudrun, his Death, and Brynhild’s Suicide
33-40 The Death of Gunnar and Hogni, and Gudrun’s Vengeance
41-44 Gudrun, Svanhild and Jormunrek
Chapters 1-12: Of Sigurd’s Lineage
1. Sigi, outlawed for murder, is helped by Odin, his father, and founds a kingdom.
2. Sigi is slain but is avenged by his son, Rerir, who remains childless until he eats of an apple sent
by Odin. His son is Volsung, father of Sigmund and Signy.
3. Sigmund wins a sword plunged into the great tree growing in Volsung’s hall, for he alone can
draw it forth.
4. Volsung, treacherously attacked by Siggeir, Signy’s unloved husband, falls in the battle.
5. The sons of Volsung are captured, set in stocks in the forest and left to a lingering death.
6. A she-wolf appears every night, devouring brother after brother until Sigmund alone remains.
7. Sigmund slays the wolf, escapes and lives on in the forest, Siggeir believing him dead.
8. Signy’s two sons are too cowardly to be of help to Sigmund in avenging his kinsmen, and Signy,
herself eager for vengeance, contrives to sleep unrecognized with her brother and bears him a
son, Sinfjotli, who is thus doubly in the line of Volsung and with Sigmund a worthy avenger.
9. After preliminary exploits, including a period as werewolves, they fire Siggeir’s hall. Signy, her
vengeance complete, chooses to perish in the flames.
10. After further adventures, mainly with his half-brother Helgi, Sinfjotli is poisoned by his
stepmother, Borghild.
11. Sigmund falls in battle, his sword breaking against Odin’s spear.
Chapters 13-25: Of Sigurd’s Birth & Youthful Exploits
1. Sigmund’s second wife, Hjordis, gives birth to Sigurd at King Hjalprek’s court after her
husband’s death.
2. Sigurd’s foster-father, Regin, a smith, persuades him to ask the guardians of his father’s property
for a horse. His request is granted and Odin helps him in his choice.
3. Regin tells Sigurd of his father, Hreidmar, of his two brothers, Otr, who often assumed the
semblance of an otter, and Fafnir.
4. The god Loki, journeying with Odin and Hœnir, slew Otr in his animal shape. Hreidmar
demanded that in compensation they stuff the otter skin with gold and then heap gold over it.
5. Loki extorted the necessary gold, including the ring Andvaranaut, from the dwarf Andvari, who
laid a curse upon it.

6. Fafnir murdered his father, appropriated the gold and now guards it in the semblance of a dragon.
7. Sigurd agrees to slay Fafnir if Regin provides a sword.
8. Sigurd shatters his first two swords, but the third, Gram, forged from Sigmund’s broken blade,
stands every test.
9. Sigurd persuades his uncle Gripir to tell his future.
10. Sigurd avenges his father, afterwards seeking out Fafnir.
11. Helped in his strategy by Odin, he slays the dragon.
12. He roasts its heart for Regin, burns his fingers and in cooling them tastes Fafnir’s blood. He
immediately understands bird language, and from the twittering above him learns of Regin’s
proposed treachery, and of Brynhild.
13. He slays Regin, loads Fafnir’s treasure, including the sword Hrotti on to his horse, mounts and
rides off.
14. He finds a warrior asleep in a ‘shield castle’. This is Brynhild, a former Valkyrie.
15. Sigurd awakens her from an enchanted sleep, a punishment laid upon her by Odin who also
doomed her to marriage, though she swore she would accept none who knew fear.
16. Brynhild teaches Sigurd runic and other wisdom and they plight their troth.
17. Sigurd next visits Heimir, Brynhild’s brother-in-law. He finds that Brynhild is alos there and
they renew their vows.
Chapters 26-33: Sigurd’s Marriage to Gudrun, his Death, and Brynhild’s Suicide
1. King Gjuki and his wife, Grimhild, have three sons, Gunnar, Hogni, and Guttorm, and a
daughter, Gudrun, who knows Brynhild, described here as Atli’s sister.
2. Brynhild interprets Gudrun’s dream as foretelling two marriages and their consequences.
3. Sigurd arrives at Gjuki’s hall and becomes a great asset.
4. He forgets Brynhild because of a potion administered by Grimhild.
5. He marries Gudrun, becoming blood-brother to Gunnar and Hogni.
6. Gunnar determines to win Brynhild, but cannot pass the flame barrier surrounding her hall.
7. Sigurd exchanges shapes with Gunnar and succeeds in his stead.
8. Brynhild accepts the supposed Gunnar, and for three nights they share the same bed with drawn
sword between them.
9. Sigurd takes from her Andvaranaut, the ring he had earlier given her in his own person,
substituting it for another.
10. Brynhild later gives Aslaug, her daughter by Sigurd, into Heimir’s care, and marries Gunnar.
11. When bathing together, Brynhild claims precedence over Gudrun by wading farther into the
river. Quarreling, they argue the merits of their respective husbands, and Gudrun shows Brynhild
Andvaranaut, thus revealing the deception.
12. Brynhild feels herself betrayed and perjured, for she had sworn to marry him who braved the
flames. To Gunnar she implies that when Sigurd slept with her in Gunnar’s semblance, he
betrayed Gunnar’s trust, and she urges his murder.
13. Gunnar consults Hogni, alleging Sigurd’s misconduct, adding that his death would enhance their
wealth and power. Hogni stresses Sigurd’s value to them and advises against the killing.
14. Guttorm is incited to the deed; he transfixes Sigurd with a sword as he rests in bed with Gudrun.
15. Sigurd slays his murderer, comforts Gudrun who still has her brothers, and dies.
16. Brynhild laughs on hearing Gudrun’s moaning. She now denies Sigurd’s misconduct, stabs
herself, mounts Sigurd’s blazing funeral pyre, and so dies.

Chapters 33-40: The Death of Gunnar & Hogni, and Gudrun’s Vengeance
1. Gudrun reluctantly marries Atli who, greedy for her brothers’ gold, treacherously invites them to
a feast.
2. Despite ill-boding dreams and Gudrun’s warning they set out.
3. On arrival at Atli’s hall, they are attacked and captured.
4. Gunnar refuses to reveal where the gold is hidden until he sees his brother’s bloody heart.
5. Hogni’s heart is cut out.
6. Gunnar exults that now he alone knows the secret which he will never disclose.
7. He dies bravely in a snake pit.
8. Gudrun, to avenge her brothers, slays her children by Atli, serving him a grisly meal of their
hearts and blood.
9. Later, helped by Hogni’s son, Gudrun stabs Atli and fires his hall.
Chapters 41-44: Gudrun, Svanhild, and Jormunrek
1. Gudrun tries to drown herself but the waves carry her to the land of King Jonark, whom she
marries.
2. Their sons are Hamdir, Sorli and Erp.
3. Svanhild, Gudrun’s daughter by Sigurd, is promised to Jormunrek, but he has her trampled to
death beneath horses’ hoofs for misconduct with his son.
4. Hamdir and Sorli set out to avenge Svanhild.
5. They kill Erp through a misunderstanding.
6. After hacking off Jormunrek’s hands and feet they put up a stout resistance for they are charmed
against iron. On Odin’s advice they are stoned to death.
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SECTION I: OF SIGURD’S LINEAGE
CHAPTER 1: Of Sigi, the Son of Odin
1. Sigi & Bredi go deer hunting: Sigi slays Bredi for jealousy and is outlawed
2. Sigi gains wealth and power through raiding, ruling over the land of the Huns
3. Sigi marries well; Rerir born
CHAPTER 2: Of the Birth of Volsung
1. Sigi slain through the jealousy of his followers
2. Rerir grows in strength and power and avenges his father’s death
3. Rerir weds, but remains childless until Freya grants an apple of fertility (brought by Hljod)
4. The Queen carries Volsung six winters before he is cut from her
5. Volsung marries Hljod, who bears him ten sons and a daughter, including Sigmund and Signy
6. Volsung builds a hall around the Branstock

CHAPTER 3: Of the Sword that Sigmund Drew from the Branstock
1. Siggeir betrothed to Signy against her will
2. Odin appears as an old man at the marriage feast and sinks a sword into the Branstock
3. Failed attempts to dislodge the sword
4. Sigmund removes the sword readily
5. Siggeir offers to buy it, but Sigmund refuses him, greatly angering Siggeir
CHAPTER 4: How King Siggeir wedded Signy, and bade King Volsung and his Son to Gothland
1. Siggeir and Signy consummate their marriage
2. Siggeir wishes to depart next day, but Signy does not
3. Siggeir invites the Volsungs to visit in three months’ time
CHAPTER 5: Of the Slaying of King Volsung
1. Volsung and his sons sail to Siggeir’s land in three ships at the appointed time
2. Signy warns them of treachery
3. Siggeir attacks and slays Volsung, capturing his ten sons
4. Signy pleads for her brothers
5. The brothers put in stocks
6. A she-wolf appears at midnight and devours one brother each night
7. Sigmund slays the she-wolf by tearing out its tongue
CHAPTER 6: Of how Signy sent the Children of her and Siggeir to Sigmund
1. Sigmund builds an underground house in the wild-wood and there dwells through several winters
2. Signy sends her eldest son to help Sigmund
3. Sigmund tests him with the meal-sack snake at which he fails
4. Signy deems the child must die for cowardice
5. The second son fares likewise
CHAPTER 7: Of the Birth of Sinfjotli the Son of Sigmund
1. Signy changes shape with a witch-wife
2. Signy fares to Sigmund’s earth-house, begging lodging for the night
3. Together they sleep for three nights in one bed
4. Signy returns home and resumes her former appearance
5. Sinfjotli born
6. Sinfjotli sent to Sigmund at the age of ten, being tested by Signy first
7. Sinfjotli passes the meal-sack test by kneading the snake into the flour
CHAPTER 8: The Death of King Siggeir and of Signy
1. Sigmund rears Sinfjotli to manhood through adventures in the wild-woods
2. Adventure of the wolf-skins

3. Sigmund and Sinfjotli go to Siggeir’s hall intent on vengeance
4. Signy’s children betray their hiding place, so Sinfjotli kills them
5. Sigmund and Sinfjotli put up a strong defense, but are captured in the end
6. The Volsungs buried alive within a stone barrow
7. Signy smuggles Sigmund’s sword inside before the tomb is shut up
8. The stone is cut in two and the Volsungs escape
9. Siggier’s hall set aflame
10. Signy reveals the truth of Sinfjotli’s lineage to Sigmund before she dies
11. Sigmund returns to the Volsung’s lands
12. Sigmund marries Borghild, who bears him two sons named Helgi and Hamund
13. At Helgi’s birth Norns predict he will be the most renowned of all kings
14. Helgi named and given birth-gifts of land and weapons
15. Helgi at age fifteen fares to the wars with Sinfjotli as his mate
CHAPTER 9: How Helgi won King Hodbrod and his Realm, and wedded Sigrun
1. Helgi defeats Hunding in battle
2. Helgi defeats the sons of Hunding, slaying Alf, Eyolf, Herward and Hagbard
3. Riding from the battle, Helgi meets Sigrun on her way to be wed to Hodbrod
4. Helgi vows to defeat Hodbrod, to whom Sigrun is unwilling promised
5. Helgi summons his army to gather at Red-Berg
6. Helgi’s fleet caught in a storm at Varinsfjord
7. Signy directs them to good harborage at Gnipalund
8. Sinfjotli taunts Hodbrod’s father (confused here for his brother)
9. The battle ensues at Wolfstone with great casualties, drawing the Valkyries
10. Helgi slays Hodbrod, winning the land and Sigrun for his wife
CHAPTER 10: The Ending of Sinfjotli
1. Sinfjotli slays Borghild’s brother over the wooing of the same woman
2. Borghild grows wrathful and bids Sinfjotli be gone
3. Sigmund pays the wergild for the slaying
4. Borghild holds a funeral feast for her slain brother
5. Borghild poisons Sinfjotli
6. Sigmund carries Sinfjotli’s body to the firth, where a boatman waits to ferry it over
7. As soon as Sinfjotli is laid into the boat it disappears
8. Sigmund drives Borghild away, and she dies soon after
CHAPTER 11: Of King Sigmund’s Last Battle, and of How he Must Yield Up his Sword again
1. Sigmund woos Hjordis, daughter of King Eylimi, but so does Lyngvi, Hunding’s son
2. Both men arrive for a feast at Eylimi’s hall, where trouble is bound to brew
3. Eylimi asks Hjordis to make the choice, and she chooses Sigmund
4. Sigmund and Hjordis wed
5. They fare home to Hunland with Eylimi
6. Lyngvi summons Sigmund to do battle, and he accepts, gathering his forces

7. The battle commences with Sigmund greatly outnumbered
8. Sigmund holds the upper hand for a long while
9. Odin arrives in the guise of an old man, going up against Sigmund with his spear
10. Sigmund’s sword is shattered against Odin’s spear
11. The tide of battle then turns against Sigmund, who is slain along with Eylimi
CHAPTER 12: Of the Shards of the Sword Gram, and how Hjordis went to King Alf
1. Sigmund speaks his last with Hjordis
2. Hjordis takes the shards of Sigmund’s sword
3. Hjordis exchanges places with her handmaid
4. Alf arrives with a fleet, and leaves with Hjordis and the treasure
5. Alf tests ‘Hjordis’ and the ‘bondmaid’
6. Hjordis found out, and taken as Alf’s wife
SECTION II: OF SIGURD’S BIRTH & YOUTHFUL EXPLOITS
CHAPTER 13: Of the Birth and Waxing of Sigurd Fafnir’s-Bane
1. Sigurd born and reared in Hjalprek’s hall
2. Regin, Sigurd’s foster-father, teaches him many arts (chess, runes, tongues)
3. Regin queries Sigurd concerning his treasure
4. Sigurd chooses for himself the horse Grani, foal of Sleipnir
5. Regin goads Sigurd to gain Fafnir’s gold
6. Sigurd questions Regin in return
CHAPTER 14: Regin’s Tale of his Brothers, and of the Gold called Andvari’s Hoard
1. Regin tells of his lineage
2. Loki kills Ottar
3. Loki captures Andvari, taking his gold as ransom
4. Andvari curses the gold
5. The gold given to Hreidmar as wergild for Otter’s death
6. Loki prophecies the doom of Hreidmar’s clan
7. Regin tells how Fafnir then murdered his father to obtain the gold
8. Fafnir lay upon the hoard as a dragon; Regin became a master-smith to King Hjalprek
9. Sigurd bids Regin forge him a sword
CHAPTER 15: Of the Welding Together of the Shards of the Sword Gram
1. Regin forges two swords which Sigurd breaks
2. Sigurd obtains the shards of Gram from his mother Hjordis
3. Regin reforges Gram
4. Sigurd cleaves Regin’s anvil in two and shears a lock of wool
5. Sigurd vows to avenge his father first

CHAPTER 16: The Prophecy of Grifir
1. Sigurd learns of his fate from his uncle Grifir (though the reader is not told)
2. Again Regin urges Sigurd to slay Fafnir, and again he vows vengeance for his father first
CHAPTER 17: Of Sigurd’s Avenging of Sigmund his Father
1. Sigurd asks his hosts to support him in avenging his father on Hunding’s sons
2. Ships are outfitted and an army gathered, with Sigurd at their head
3. The fleet sets out and meets a storm a few days out
4. Hnikar hails them from a ness and after queries asks to come aboard (it is Odin), as is done
5. (Reginsmál interpolation: Hnikar-Odin’s Dialogue with Regin)
6. The storm abates and they sail on to the land of Hunding’s sons, at which Hnikar disappears
7. Sigurd ravages the land
8. Lingvi raises his army and the battle begins
9. Sigurd slays Lingvi, Hjorward, and all the other sons of Hunding
10. Sigurd fares home victorious
11. Regin presses Sigurd again, who now agrees
CHAPTER 18: OF the Slaying of the Worm Fafnir
1. Sigurd and Regin fare to the heath, where Regin counsels Sigurd what to do
2. Sigurd proceeds to the lair, but Regin retreats
3. Odin appears as an old man, counseling Sigurd further
4. Fafnir crawls out from his den and over the pit where Sigurd waits
5. Sigurd stabs Fafnir
6. Fafnir questions Sigurd
7. Sigurd reveals his identity
8. Fafnir warns Sigurd of the gold’s evil
9. Sigurd questions Fafnir (proto-Hávamál)
10. Fafnir warns Sigurd once more, but Sigurd scoffs
11. Fafnir dies
CHAPTER 19: Of the Slaying of Regin
1. Regin returns, lamenting his brother’s death and his part in it
2. Sigurd derides Regin for cowardice, but Regin claims the credit
3. Sigurd cuts out Fafnir’s heart
4. Regin drinks Fafnir’s blood and asks Sigurd to roast for him the heart
5. Sigurd burns his finger and licking the blood from it, understands the birds
6. The birds warn Sigurd of betrayal, and speak of Brynhild
7. Sigurd cuts off Regin’s head
8. (Reginsmál interpolation: The Song of the Birds)
9. Sigurd eats of the dragon’s heart
10. Sigurd loads the gold hoard in two chests on Grani’s back and rides away

CHAPTER 20: Of Sigurd’s Meeting with Brynhild on the Mountain
1. Sigurd rides to Hindfell, where he comes upon a Shield-Burg
2. Sigurd find Brynhild asleep within and wakes her
3. (Sigrdrifumál interpolations: Brynhild’s Welcome & Waking Incantation)
4. Brynhild tells of her fate
5. Brynhild teaches Sigurd rune lore
6. Sigurd given a choice
CHAPTER 21: More Wise Words of Brynhild
1. Sigurd asks Brynhild for more advice
2. Brynhild imparts proverbs of folk wisdom
3. Sigurd and Brynhild plight their troth
CHAPTER 22: Of the Semblance and Array of Sigurd Fafnir’s-Bane
1. Sigurd departs from Hindarfell
2. A description of Sigurd given
CHAPTER 23: Sigurd Comes to Hlymdale
1. Sigurd arrives at the hall of Heimir, husband to Brynhild’s sister Bekkhild
2. Sigurd welcomed warmly and given much regard
CHAPTER 24: Sigurd sees Brynhild at Hlymdale
1. Brynhild fares home to Heimir’s hall
2. Sigurd’s hawk flies up to Brynhild’s window, where he sees her
3. Sigurd grows distraught, confiding his love to Alsvid
4. Sigurd greets Brynhild, who welcomes him with drink, and they kiss
5. Brynhild warns Sigurd and prophecies his fate, but he rejects it
6. Sigurd gives Brynhild Andvari’s ring and they renew their oaths
CHAPTER 25: Of the Dream of Gudrun
1. Of Gjuki’s clan and that of Budli
2. Gudrun tells of her foreboding dream to a handmaid, who interprets optimistically
3. Gudrun seeks Brynhild’s advice
4. Gudrun and Brynhild discuss the fame of certain men, coming naturally to Sigurd
5. Gudrun tells her dream to Brynhild
6. Brynhild interprets her omens correctly
CHAPTER 26: Sigurd comes to the Gjukings and is wedded to Gudrun
1. Sigurd travels to the hall of Gjuki and is greeted by the king himself

2. Grimhild devises a means to wed Sigurd to Gudrun
3. Sigurd drinks Grimhild’s potion of forgetfulness
4. Sigurd takes note of Gudrun’s charm and courtesy
5. Sigurd remains with the Gjukings for five seasons (2½ years)
6. Gunnar offers Sigurd lands and Gudrun’s hand, which he accepts
7. Sigurd takes an oath of brotherhood with Gunnar
8. Sigurd and Gudrun married
9. Great deeds done as time passes
10. Gudrun eats of the serpent’s heart
11. Sigmund born
12. Grimhild entices Gunnar to woo Brynhild
CHAPTER 27: The Wooing of Brynhild
1. They ride to Budli’s hall and gain his permission for the wooing
2. They ride to Heimir’s hall and thence to Brynhild’s hall
3. Gunnar’s horse rears back and will not cross the fire
4. Gunnar borrows Sigurd’s steed, but it will not bear him
5. Gunnar and Sigurd change semblances, and Sigurd fares through the fire
6. Sigurd in Gunnar’s guise claims Brynhild as his wife, holding Brynhild to her vow
7. Sigurd and Brynhild sleep together three nights with his sword laid between them
8. Brynhild gives Andvari’s ring to Gunnar-Sigurd
9. Sigurd returns to Gunnar and exchanges forms again
10. Brynhild returns to Heimir’s hall, giving her and Sigurd’s daughter Aslaug into his keeping
11. Gunnar and Brynhild are wed at the Gjuking’s hall
12. Sigurd regains his memory, but lets the matter lie
CHAPTER 28: How the Queens held Angry Converse Together at the Bathing
1. Brynhild wades furthest out into the river, causing Gudrun to question her reason
2. Brynhild claims the greatest fame and status from her marriage
3. Gudrun rebuts her angrily, revealing the truth and showing her Andvari’s ring
4. Gudrun queries Sigurd about Brynhild
5. Gudrun and Brynhild quarrel, insulting and then praising each other’s husbands
6. Brynhild praises Sigurd for the slaying of Fafnir
7. Gudrun defends Gunnar, blaming Grani for his failure in passing through the flames
8. Brynhild places blame on Grimhild, to which Gudrun is shocked and offended
9. Gudrun insinuates Brynhild’s immodesty with Sigurd
10. Insults exchanged; Brynhild ends the conversation, but the damage has been done
CHAPTER 29: Of Brynhild’s great Grief and Mourning
1. Brynhild lays ill in bed
2. Gunnar questions her and receives a reproachful and accusative rebuke
3. Brynhild threatens to slay Gunnar, but Hogni casts her in chains
4. Brynhild rends her needlework and wails out her laments that all might hear

5. Gudun asks her bower-maid Svaflod why everyone is do downcast
6. Attempts are made to speak with Brynhild, but she remains morose
7. Sigurd speaks with Gudrun concerning Brynhild
8. Sigurd consoles Brynhild, but only incenses her anger further
9. Sigurd implores Brynhild to be content, but she will not
10. Brynhild reminds him of their oaths up on Hindarfell, vowing to hold to it or die
11. Sigurd offers to divorce Gudrun and marry her, but this she also refuses
12. Sigurd departs
13. Brynhild tells Gunnar of Sigurd’s betrayal
CHAPTER 30: Of the Slaying of Sigurd Fafnir’s-Bane
1. Brynhild incites Gunnar to slay Sigurd
2. Gunnar is conflicted on the matter, but is swayed by shame of losing Brynhild (and the gold)
3. Gunnar confides in Hogni, who demurs, blaming Brynhild
4. Guttorm brought in to do the deed, as being free of any oaths
5. Guttorm fed on serpent’s flesh and wolf meat to bolster up his courage, and promised reward
6. Guttorm stabs Sigurd while sleeping at night, but is slain in turn by Sigurd as he flees
7. Gudrun wakes awash in blood; Sigurd comforts her before he dies
8. Brynhild laughs at hearing Gudrun’s wail, for which Gunnar derides her
9. Gudrun derides her brothers
CHAPTER 31: Of the Lamentation of Gudrun
(Guðrúnarkviða I interpolation: Gudrun’s Lament inclusive)
CHAPTER 32: Of the Ending of Brynhild
1. Brynhild’s tells her dream to Gunnar, and reveals the truth
2. Gunnar attempts to dissuade her from suicide, to no avail
3. Brynhild stabs herself, offing gold to any who will follow her
4. Brynhild prophesies the Gjukings’ fate
5. Brynhild requests a single funeral pyre for both she and Sigurd and their entourage
6. So it is done and all are burnt together
CHAPTER 33: Gudrun Wedded to Atli
1. Gudrun travels north to Alf’s hall in Denmark, staying there for seven seasons (3½ years)
2. At Grimhild’s urging, the Gjukings travel north to offer Gudrun atonement in gold
3. Gudrun given a drink of forgetfulness (for the wrongs done against her)
4. Grimhild offers Gudrun atonement in gold, and Atli’s hand in marriage
5. Gudrun refuses, remembering Sigmund and the valor of Sigurd
6. Grimhild grows wroth
7. Gudrun submits, though she does so unwillingly
8. Gudrun weds Atli

CHAPTER 34: Atli Bids the Gjukings to him
1. Atli has bad dreams which Gudrun interprets
2. Atli begins to plot how he might gain Sigurd’s gold
3. Atli sends Vingi to summon the Gjukings to a feast
4. Gudrun sends a warning message to her brothers via runes and a ring
5. Vingi alters the meaning of the rune message
6. Vingi delivers the messages
7. Gunnar agrees to go, but Hogni is loth to follow
CHAPTER 35: The Dreams of the Wives of the Gjukings
1. Kostbera reads the runes aright before retiring for the night
2. Kostbera warns Hogni not to go, telling him of her dreams, and of the runes
3. Hogni scoffs at her ill foreboding, interpreting the dreams as benign
CHAPTER 36: Of the Journey of the Gjukings to King Atli
1. Glaumvor also tells Gunnar of her foreboding dreams
2. Gunnar responds as Hogni had
3. The Gjukings set out for Atli’s hall, faring first by ship and then by horse
4. They find the castle well-armed and shut up tight
5. Hogni breaks the gates and they enter the hall
6. Vingi accuses them of deceit and so they strike him down with axe-hammers
CHAPTER 37: The Battle in the Burg of King Atli
1. The Gjukings ride up to the hall, where Atli’s army is arrayed for battle
2. Atli demands the gold hoard which is rightly Gudrun’s
3. Gudrun, hearing sounds of battle, rushes to her brothers aid, fighting by their side
4. Atli laments his ill fortunes as the battle goes against him
5. Hogni mocks his babbling
CHAPTER 38: Of the Slaying of the Gjukings
1. Atli’s forces are pressed back into the hall, where the fight continues
2. All but Gunnar and Hogni slain; they are overwhelmed and captured
3. Atli is so incensed he calls for Hogni’s heart to be cut out
4. Atli’s counselor calls for Hjalli’s heart instead, but Hogni intercedes on his behalf
5. Alti demans the gold, but Gunnar demands to see Hogni’s heart first
6. Hjalli’s heart cut out instead, but Gunnar knows it is not Hogni’s by its trembling
7. Hogni laughs as his heart is cut out
8. Gunnar refuses to disclose the gold’s location, now that he alone knows it
9. Gunnar cast into a snake-pit.
10. Gudrun sends him a harp, by which he charms the snakes to sleep
11. One great adder remains awake and stings him in the heart, so that he dies

CHAPTER 39: The End of Atli and his Kin and Folk
1. Atli mocks Gudrun and lays the blame on her
2. Atli seeks to atone with gold, and she capitulates, calling for funeral feast for her fallen kin
3. That night Gudrun cuts the throats of her two children by Atli
4. At the feast Atli asks where their children are and she tells him: they are the feast
5. Gudrun and Atli curse each other
6. Niblung, last remaining son of Hogni, swears vengeance on Atli
7. Gudrun stabs Atli while he sleeps with Niblung’s aid
8. Atli and Gudrun accuse each other of falsehood
9. Atli begs a noble funeral and Gudrun acquiesces
10. Atli dies and Gudrun fulfills her oath, then burns his hall with all inside
CHAPTER 40: How Gudrun Cast Herself into the Sea, but was Brought Ashore Again
1. Of Swanhild
2. Gudrun attempts to drown herself, but she floats to the shores of King Jonakr’s land
3. King Jonakr takes Gudrun to wife
4. Gudrun bears him three children
CHAPTER 41: Of the Wedding and Slaying of Swanhild
1. Jormunrek sends Randver and Bikki to woo Swanhild for him
2. Randver makes an offer of alliance to Jonakr via Swanhild, and he concurs
3. Gudrun is less convinced
4. The party fares back by ship
5. Bikki prompts Randver to take Swanhild for himself
6. On their return Bikki tells Jormunrek of Randver’s illicit affair
7. Jormunrek has Randver taken to the gallows
8. Randver sends his father a hawk plucked of its plumage, and the point is taken
9. Jormunrek relents, but too late, for Bikki has hung his son
10. Bikki now points the blame at Swanhild
11. Swanhild is bound between the gates and trampled by horses driven through
CHAPTER 42: Gudrun sends her Sons to avenge Swanhild
1. Gudrun provokes Hamdir to vengeance
2. Hamdir protests, noting how little she once praised the actions of Gunnar and Hogni
3. Hamdir capitulates to Gudrun’s wishes, knowing he will fail in the task
4. Gudrun’s Lament
CHAPTER 43: The Latter End of all the Kin of the Gjukings
1. Of the enchantment Gudrun laid upon her sons’ armor
2. Hamdir and Sorli head off, meeting Erp along the way
3. Erp slain by his brothers, seemingly for offering an unfit answer to their query

4. Both brothers stumble, proving Erp’s prognostication both wise and true
5. The brothers arrive at Jormunrek’s hall and immediately attack
6. Hamdir cuts off Jormunrek’s hands and Sorli his feet, but Erp is not there to take his head
7. The brothers fight valiantly, being impervious to the cut of iron swords
8. Odin arrives in the guise of an old man and gives away the secret of their enchanted armor
9. The brothers are set upon with stones and slain