Elder Edda Chapter Summary & Analysis - The Lay of Sigrdrifa (Sigrdrifumal) Summary

The Lay of Sigrdrifa (Sigrdrifumal) Summary

An opening prose paragraph continues where the Lay of Fafnir left off. Sigurd rides to Hindarfell where he sees a great light shining from a mountain. When he comes to the light he sees a shield-wall with a banner flying over it and a fully armed sleeping form. Sigurd takes off the helmet and discovers the form is a woman. Using his sword Gram, Sigurd cuts away the woman's corselet thereby awakening her from her deep sleep. She asks what has released her from her sleep and Sigurd tells her his name. The woman gives her name as Sigrdrifa - one of the Valkyries.

Sigrdrifa tells Sigurd that she was put into the deep sleep by Odin when she angered him by killing the wrong warrior in battle. Odin curses the girl by stating that she shall take a husband and never fight victoriously again. Sigrdrifa says that she had...
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