Critical Introduction

Völsunga saga (ca. 1200–1270) is one of the medieval Icelandic fornaldarsögur—legendary sagas—populated by mythical heroes, heroines, gods, and otherworldly entities like dwarves, valkyries, and shape-shifters who assume the form of wolves, otters, and dragons. The story of Sigurd's defeat of Fafnir pre-dates the prose Völsunga saga. The various Eddic poems about Sigurd establish him as the dragon-slaying hero who falls in love with a valkyrie, learns the knowledge of runes from her and the prophecy of his own betrayal and demise, fulfills that prophecy, and is murdered. Sigurd the Dragonslayer was among the most popular figures in Scandinavian tradition. He is singled out from an early age as a great hero from a long line of heroes battling both human foes and monsters, most famously the dragon, Fafnir, who was once a man but shapeshifts into dragon-form to guard his stolen treasure. But there are many heroes in the Völsunga saga, some of whom more closely resemble the monsters they fight, like Sigmund and Sinfjotli who transform into werewolves, exhibiting a savagery that may have more to do with their human qualities. This text had widespread appeal in the Middle Ages, and has inspired numerous adaptations in the modern era: its dragon, Fafnir, and its cursed ring, the centrepiece of an accursed treasure hoard, are reflected in Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle and J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Reading Questions

Is Sigmund and Sinfjotli's savagery caused by the wolfskins, or are they savage to begin with? Could Sigurd have performed his heroic feats without the intervention of Odin? If not, then what makes him heroic? What is the significance of Sigurd's conversation with Fafnir?

Editorial Notes

Völsunga saga survives in one manuscript, Ny kgl. Saml. 1824b 4to (ca. 1400) and this translation is based on the transcription available online: http://www.voluspa.org/sagas. htm. This transcription includes a facing page English translation by William Morris and Eirikr Magnusson (London, 1870), which was consulted in conjunction with the excellent translation by Jesse Byock (Berkeley, 1990). Spelling and the tenses have been normalized, adjusting the text in places for easier reading.