the völsunga saga

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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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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
Page 1: Chapter Breakdown: THE VÖLSUNGA SA
Page 5 and 6: 3. Sigmund and Sinfjotli go to Sigg
Page 7 and 8: CHAPTER 16: The Prophecy of Grifir
Page 9 and 10: 2. Grimhild devises a means to wed
Page 11 and 12: CHAPTER 34: Atli Bids the Gjukings
Page 13: 4. Both brothers stumble, proving E

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