The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún - J.R.R. Tolkien

Summary

"The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún" is a masterful retelling by J.R.R. Tolkien of the ancient Norse heroic legends, primarily drawing from the Völsunga saga and the Poetic Edda. The book is divided into two long narrative poems: "The New Lay of the Völsungs" (Völsungakviða en nýja) and "The New Lay of Gudrún" (Guðrúnarkviða en nýja).

The first part, "The Lay of the Völsungs," chronicles the life and tragic death of Sigurd, the dragon-slayer. It traces his lineage from Odin, his forging of the sword Gram, his slaying of the dragon Fafnir and acquisition of the cursed gold, his awakening of the Valkyrie Brynhild, and their unbreakable vows. However, his fate takes a turn when he is enchanted by the sorceress Grímhild at the court of the Gjúkungs, causing him to forget Brynhild and marry Gudrún. This leads to a complex web of deceit where Sigurd, disguised as Gunnar, rides through the flames to win Brynhild for Gunnar. The ensuing revelation of this deception fuels Brynhild's rage and jealousy, ultimately leading to Sigurd's murder and Brynhild's suicide.

The second part, "The Lay of Gudrún," follows the harrowing life of Gudrún after Sigurd's death. It depicts her profound grief, her forced marriage to the treacherous King Atli, and her chilling vengeance upon him for the murder of her brothers, Gunnar and Hogni. Her life becomes a relentless cycle of loss, vengeance, and sorrow, marked by further marriages and the tragic deaths of her children, culminating in her final, enduring lament for a life plagued by the cursed gold and inescapable fate.

Book Sections

Section 1: The Lay of the Völsungs

This section begins by tracing the illustrious, yet fated, lineage of Sigurd back to Odin, the All-father. It establishes the Völsung clan's heroic destiny and the acquisition of the sword Gram, a powerful weapon passed down through generations. The narrative then shifts to Sigurd's upbringing and his fateful encounter with the dwarf Regin. Regin, driven by greed and a desire for vengeance for his father's death, manipulates Sigurd into slaying his dragon-brother Fafnir, who guards a hoard of cursed gold. After killing Fafnir, Sigurd tastes the dragon's blood and gains the ability to understand the language of birds, who warn him of Regin's impending treachery. Sigurd then kills Regin.

Sigurd's journey leads him to the desolate peak of Hindarfell, where he rides through a ring of magical fire to awaken the Valkyrie Brynhild, who has been cursed to sleep there. They exchange profound vows of love, binding themselves to each other by fate. However, the curse of the gold begins to subtly influence events.

Sigurd then rides to the court of the Gjúkungs (also known as the Niflungs), ruled by King Gjúki and his formidable queen, Grímhild. Grímhild, a sorceress, senses Sigurd's power and potential and desires him as an ally for her family. She brews a powerful potion that makes Sigurd forget Brynhild and fall deeply in love with her daughter, Gudrún. Sigurd marries Gudrún, establishing a bond of brotherhood with Gunnar and Hogni.

When Gunnar wishes to marry Brynhild, who is surrounded by impenetrable flames, Grímhild devises a plan. Sigurd, enchanted and disguised as Gunnar, rides through the fire to claim Brynhild for his brother-in-law. Brynhild, believing she has been won by Gunnar, unwillingly marries him, though she is consumed by a deep sense of betrayal and sorrow, sensing the deception.

The truth eventually surfaces during a quarrel between Brynhild and Gudrún over their husbands' prowess. Brynhild, realizing Sigurd's true identity as her first love and the depth of the deception, is driven to a furious madness. She demands vengeance for her shattered honour and vows that only Sigurd's death can appease her. Gunnar and Hogni, swayed by Brynhild's relentless demands and the fear of her power, conspire to murder Sigurd, despite their oaths of blood-brotherhood. Their younger brother, Gutthorm, who is not bound by oaths to Sigurd, is tasked with the deed. He kills Sigurd in his bed. Brynhild, having achieved her vengeance, then takes her own life, choosing to be burnt on Sigurd's funeral pyre, thus reuniting with her true love in death.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Odin	All-father, god of war, wisdom, death; patron of heroes.	Guides fate, intervenes in human affairs, establishes the heroic Völsung lineage.
Völsung	Son of Rerir, descendant of Odin, founder of the Völsung line.	Establish a mighty lineage, uphold honor.
Sigmund	Son of Völsung, father of Sigurd; possessor of the sword Gram.	Vengeance, upholding family honor, passing on heroic legacy.
Sigurd	Son of Sigmund, greatest of heroes, dragon-slayer; possessor of the cursed gold.	Heroic deeds, honor, fulfilling his destiny, falls victim to fate and magic.
Regin	Dwarf, master smith, brother of Fafnir.	Greed for the gold, vengeance for his father's death, fratricide against Fafnir.
Fafnir	Son of Hreidmar, brother of Regin; transformed into a dragon guarding his father's gold.	Guarding treasure, overwhelming greed.
Brynhild	Valkyrie, shieldmaiden, cursed to sleep surrounded by fire; Sigurd's true love.	Love, honor, intense loyalty, profound vengeance for betrayal.
Gunnar	King of the Gjúkungs/Niflungs, husband of Brynhild, Sigurd's blood-brother.	Power, honor, maintaining his royal position, swayed by Grímhild's schemes and Brynhild's demands.
Hogni	Brother of Gunnar and Gudrún, Sigurd's blood-brother.	Loyalty to his brother Gunnar, fear of Brynhild, complicity in Sigurd's death.
Gudrún	Sister of Gunnar and Hogni, wife of Sigurd.	Love for Sigurd, later profound grief, and a burning desire for vengeance.
Grímhild	Queen of the Gjúkungs, mother of Gunnar, Hogni, and Gudrún; a powerful sorceress.	Securing alliances, increasing her family's power and influence, manipulating events for political gain.
Gutthorm	Younger brother of Gunnar and Hogni, not bound by oaths to Sigurd.	Easily manipulated, acts as an instrument for his brothers' murderous plot.

Section 2: The Lay of Gudrún

This section plunges into the profound sorrow of Gudrún following Sigurd's death. She is overwhelmed by grief, unable to shed a tear until she confronts the physical wounds on Sigurd's body. Her lament is a powerful expression of loss and despair, setting the tone for her future life. Despite her deep love for Sigurd, she is compelled to endure a life marred by the consequences of the cursed gold and the actions of her family.

Gudrún's life takes another tragic turn when she is compelled to marry King Atli, the powerful and avaricious king of the Huns. This marriage is largely an alliance arranged by her family, possibly to secure peace or wealth, but it leads to further suffering. Atli's primary motivation is to acquire the Niflung gold, the very treasure Sigurd had taken from Fafnir and which Gunnar and Hogni now possess.

Atli invites Gunnar and Hogni to his hall, feigning hospitality but secretly planning to betray and murder them for their gold. Gudrún, foreseeing the treachery, attempts to warn her brothers, but they bravely accept the invitation, prepared for battle. A fierce and bloody battle ensues in Atli's hall. Gunnar and Hogni fight valiantly against overwhelming odds but are eventually overcome. Hogni's heart is cut out, and Gunnar is thrown into a snake pit, playing his harp with his feet until he succumbs to the venom.

Witnessing the brutal murder of her brothers and the cold-blooded treachery of her husband, Gudrún is consumed by a relentless desire for vengeance. In a horrific act, she kills her two young sons by Atli, Erp and Eitil, and serves their hearts to Atli in a feast. Later, she murders Atli himself and sets fire to his hall, ensuring the complete destruction of her tormentor and his court.

Fleeing from the burning hall, Gudrún continues her desolate journey. She eventually finds refuge and marries a third time to King Jónakr, with whom she has more sons. However, the shadow of fate and vengeance continues to haunt her. Her beautiful daughter by Sigurd, Svanhild, is falsely accused and brutally trampled to death by horses by her husband, the cruel King Jörmunrekkr. Incensed by this atrocity, Gudrún once again incites her remaining sons—Hamdir, Sörli, and Erp (in some versions)—to avenge Svanhild. They embark on their mission but ultimately meet their own tragic ends. Gudrún's story concludes with her as a figure of enduring sorrow, a testament to a life defined by love, loss, betrayal, vengeance, and the inescapable curse of the gold.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Atli	King of the Huns, Gudrún's second husband; treacherous, avaricious.	Greed for the Niflung gold, power, cruelty, expansion of his domain.
Sons of Gudrún and Atli	Young, innocent children of Gudrún and Atli (Erp and Eitil).	Filial obedience, innocence; ultimately victims of Gudrún's vengeance against Atli.
Jónakr	King, Gudrún's third husband.	Provides refuge and stability to Gudrún, seeks a royal alliance.
Svanhild	Daughter of Sigurd and Gudrún; renowned for her beauty.	Innocence; becomes a victim of political intrigue and false accusation.
Jörmunrekkr (Ermanaric)	King, husband of Svanhild; cruel and suspicious.	Pride, power, suspicion, leading to the unjust death of Svanhild.
Sons of Jónakr (Hamdir, Sörli, Erp)	Gudrún's sons by Jónakr; tasked with avenging Svanhild.	Filial duty, loyalty to their mother, seeking vengeance for their sister's death.

Genre

Epic poem, heroic saga, fantasy (given its roots in mythology and Tolkien's broader work).

Author Facts

J.R.R. Tolkien (John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, 1892–1973) was an English writer, poet, philologist, and academic. He is best known for his high fantasy works, "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings," which are foundational to the modern fantasy genre. Tolkien served as Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College, Oxford, from 1925 to 1945, and Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon from 1945 to 1959. His deep academic interest in ancient languages, particularly Old Norse, Old English, and other Germanic philologies, profoundly influenced his creative writing. He developed intricate mythologies and languages for his fictional worlds, and "The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún" showcases his scholarly expertise and love for the source material that inspired much of his own myth-making.

Moral of the Story

The primary moral lessons in "The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún" revolve around:

• The Destructive Power of Greed and Cursed Treasure: The gold of Fafnir is a central motif, bringing ruin and death to all who possess or desire it. It illustrates how wealth, when obtained and guarded through violence and treachery, inevitably leads to further suffering and tragedy.
• The Inescapable Nature of Fate (Wyrd): The characters, despite their heroic stature, are often depicted as bound by an immutable destiny. Their choices, while seemingly free, lead them down paths that have been foretold or seem unavoidable, highlighting the Norse concept of wyrd (fate).
• The Cycle of Love, Betrayal, and Vengeance: The narrative is a continuous loop of passionate love, followed by heartbreaking betrayal, which in turn fuels a relentless quest for vengeance, leading to more death and suffering. This cycle perpetuates tragedy across generations.
• The Enduring Sorrow of Loss: Gudrún's journey, in particular, emphasizes the profound and lasting grief that results from such cycles of violence and loss. Her life is a testament to the weight of sorrow carried by those who survive the heroic but destructive deeds of others.
• The Peril of Broken Oaths: The breaking of sacred oaths, particularly the blood-brotherhood between Sigurd and Gunnar, leads directly to Sigurd's murder and unravels the fabric of trust and honor, demonstrating the severe consequences of dishonor.

Curiosities

• Posthumous Publication: The book was published posthumously in 2009, edited by Tolkien's son, Christopher Tolkien. J.R.R. Tolkien had written these poems in the 1930s, around the same time he was working on "The Hobbit" and developing the mythology for "The Lord of the Rings."
• Tolkien's Philological Endeavor: The poems are written in the style of the Old Norse alliterative verse, mimicking the poetic structure of the Poetic Edda. This demonstrates Tolkien's deep linguistic skill and his passion for ancient Germanic languages and literature. It's not merely a retelling but an attempt to recreate the ancient poetic form.
• Sources of Inspiration: The work is a direct retelling of key narratives from the Völsunga saga and several poems within the Poetic Edda, including Sigurðarkviða in skamma, Guðrúnarkviða I, Dráp Niflunga, and Hamðismál. Tolkien's versions offer his unique interpretation and synthesis of these often fragmented and varied sources.
• Bridge to Middle-earth Mythology: While not directly set in Middle-earth, these legends provided significant inspiration for Tolkien's own mythology. Themes like cursed rings/treasure (e.g., the One Ring), dragon-slaying, fated heroes, and tragic love found their echoes in "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings." The character of Sigurd is a clear archetype for many of Tolkien's heroes, and the cursed gold of Fafnir bears resemblance to the curse of the Ring.
• Extensive Commentary: The published book includes detailed academic commentary and notes by Christopher Tolkien, providing invaluable insights into his father's process, the source texts, and the philological context of the poems. This makes the book not just a literary work but also a scholarly resource.
• Personal Connection: Tolkien considered these stories "North-western" material, deeply rooted in the mythology of his own cultural heritage, and felt a strong connection to them. He believed they were among the greatest heroic tales of the North.