The Poetic Edda on Brynhild
The > Volume I > Notes
- attestation: The name Hild meaning 'Warrior' is the basis of Brynhild, meaning 'Warrior in Mail-Coat'
"It is worth noting that the name Hild ("Warrior") is the basis of Bryn-hild ("Warrior in Mail-Coat")."
The > Volume Ii > Notes
- attestation: The Valkyrie Brynhild-Sigrdrifa is hopelessly mixed up with the human Brynhild, daughter of Buthli, in the Sigurth story
"the undoubted Valkyrie, Brynhild-Sigrdrifa (the latter name is really only an epithet) is hopelessly mixed up with the quite human Brynhild, daughter of Buthli"
The > part in a few of the Eddic poems.
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Brynhild, Volsungasaga.
"Such, briefly, appears to have been the development of the legend before it came into Norway. Here it underwent many changes, though the clear marks of its southern origin were never obliterated. The names"
attestation: The stanza describes travel or movement involving Brynhild.
"Such, briefly, appears to have been the development of the legend before it came into Norway. Here it underwent many changes, though the clear marks of its southern origin were never obliterated. The names"
attestation: The stanza describes an act of creation involving Brynhild.
"Such, briefly, appears to have been the development of the legend before it came into Norway. Here it underwent many changes, though the clear marks of its southern origin were never obliterated. The names"
attestation: Brynhild is associated with the location Iceland.
"Such, briefly, appears to have been the development of the legend before it came into Norway. Here it underwent many changes, though the clear marks of its southern origin were never obliterated. The names"
attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Brynhild.
"Such, briefly, appears to have been the development of the legend before it came into Norway. Here it underwent many changes, though the clear marks of its southern origin were never obliterated. The names"
attestation: The stanza references rulership or authority involving Brynhild.
"Such, briefly, appears to have been the development of the legend before it came into Norway. Here it underwent many changes, though the clear marks of its southern origin were never obliterated. The names"
relationship: The stanza references alliance or oath between Brynhild and Volsungasaga.
"Such, briefly, appears to have been the development of the legend before it came into Norway. Here it underwent many changes, though the clear marks of its southern origin were never obliterated. The names"
attestation: The stanza references rulership or authority involving Brynhild.
"27. "A maid in Heimir's | home there dwells, Brynhild her name | to men is known, Daughter of Buthli, | the doughty king, And Heimir fosters | the fearless maid."
Sigurth spake:"
- attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Brynhild.
"45. "Thine oaths remembering, | silent thou art, And dwellest with Guthrun | in wedlock good; But Brynhild shall deem | she is badly mated, And wiles she seeks, | herself to avenge."
Sigurth spake:"
- relationship: The stanza references alliance or oath between Brynhild and Guth.
"45. "Thine oaths remembering, | silent thou art, And dwellest with Guthrun | in wedlock good; But Brynhild shall deem | she is badly mated, And wiles she seeks, | herself to avenge."
Sigurth spake:"
The > part in a few of the Eddic poems. > Notes
attestation: Brynhild has a dual personality in the tradition: in one version Sigurth meets her before visiting the Gjukungs, in another he first meets her while wooing her for Gunnar
"In the older (and the original South Germanic) story, Sigurth becomes a guest of the Gjukungs before he has ever heard of Brynhild, and first sees her when, having changed forms with Gunnar, he goes to woo her for the latter."
attestation: Brynhild is a sister of Atli (Attila) in the older Norse poems, a relationship absent from the southern stories, and their father is Buthli
"In the older Norse poems Brynhild is a sister of Atli (Attila), a relationship wholly foreign to the southern stories, and the father of this strangely assorted pair is Buthli"
attestation: Brynhild tells Gunnar that Sigurth violated his oath by possessing her during the three nights he slept beside her in Gunnar's form
"Brynhild tells Gunnar that Sigurth really possessed her during the three nights when he slept by her in Gunnar's form, thus violating his oath."
attestation: Brynhild is clearly defined as a Valkyrie in stanza 43, and Odin (Ygg) put her to sleep with a thorn
"Battle-maid: Brynhild, here clearly defined as a Valkyrie. Bane of the wood: fire. Ygg: Othin; cf. Grimnismol, 53. The thorn: a prose note in Sigrdrifumol calls it "sleep-thorn.""
attestation: Brynhild's dual personality as both Valkyrie and daughter of Buthli has caused confusion, compounded by the addition of a supposed second Valkyrie named Sigrdrifa
"Brynhild's dual personality as a Valkyrie and as the daughter of Buthli has made plenty of trouble, but the addition of a second Valkyrie in the person of the supposed "Sigrdrifa" has made still more."
attestation: Brynhild blames her brother Atli for compelling her to marry Gunnar against her will, following the custom of transferring murder responsibility
"Atli: Brynhild here blames her brother, following the frequent custom of transferring the responsibility for a murder"
attestation: Brynhild's wealth in this poem points to a story version where she brought riches to her marriage with Gunnar
"Lands: Brynhild's wealth again points to the story represented by stanzas 32–39; elsewhere she is not spoken of as bringing wealth to Gunnar."
attestation: Sigurth originally loved Brynhild from the outset, fitting versions where he meets her before coming to Gunnar's home
"Brynhild has now discovered the deceit that has been practised on her. That she had loved Sigurth from the outset (cf. stanza 40) fits well with the version of the story wherein Sigurth meets her before he comes to Gunnar's home"
attestation: Brynhild refused Sigurth's offer to give up Guthrun in her favor, as told in detail in the Volsungasaga
"Brynhild's statement in lines 1–2 seems to refer to the episode, not here mentioned but told in detail in the Volsungasaga, of Sigurth's effort to repair the wrong that has been done her by himself giving up Guthrun in her favor, an offer which she refuses."
attestation: The concept of being 'born again' in stanza 45 shows Christian influence, reflecting the post-Christianization composition of the poem in Iceland
"Born again: this looks like a trace of Christian influence (the poem was composed well after the coming of Christianity to Iceland) in the assumption that if Brynhild killed herself she could not be "born again""
attestation: Brynhild prophesies the fates of Gunnar, Guthrun, Atli, and others in stanzas 52 onward
"With this stanza begins Brynhild's prophesy of what is to befall Gunnar, Guthrun, Atli, and the many others involved in their fate."
comparison: Brynhild's identification as a Valkyrie contradicts the version of the story used in stanzas 16-17, and the poet tried to combine two contradictory traditions
"The reference to Brynhild as a Valkyrie by no means fits with the version of the story used in stanzas 16–17, and the poet seems to have attempted to combine the two contradictory traditions"
attestation: In the Nibelungenlied, Brynhild appears as a queen ruling over lands and peoples
"In the Nibelungenlied Brynhild appears as a queen ruling over lands and peoples."
relationship: Brynhild was Atli's sister, and Guthrun bore indirect responsibility for Brynhild's death
"Sister: Brynhild; regarding Guthrun's indirect responsibility for Brynhild's death"
The > part in a few of the Eddic poems. > Introductory Note
attestation: The passage provides naming or identification for Brynhild.
"This may, perhaps, have been a long poem (not, however, the "Long" Sigurth Lay; see introductory note to Brot af Sigurtharkvithu) dealing with the Regin-Fafnir-Sigurth-Brynhild story, and including, besides most of the Fafnismol, stanzas 1–4 and 6–11 of the Reginsmol and part of the so-called Sigrdrifumol, together with much that has been lost."
attestation: The passage provides naming or identification for Brynhild.
"The mistake made by the annotator in thinking that the epithet "sigrdrifa," rightly applied to Brynhild as a "bringer of victory," was a proper name has already been explained and commented on (note on Fafnismol, 44)."
attribution: Brynhild delivers a speech in the verse.
"19. Beech-runes are there, | birth-runes are there, And all the runes of ale, And the magic runes of might; Who knows them rightly | and reads them true, Has them himself to help; Ever they aid,"
relationship: The stanza implies enmity between Brynhild and Guth.
"3. "Thy heart hath Brynhild | whetted to hate, Evil to work | and harm to win; She grudges the honor | that Guthrun has, And that joy of herself | thou still dost have.""
relationship: Brynhild is identified as the offspring of Buthli.
"8. Then Brynhild spake, | the daughter of Buthli: "Well shall ye joy | in weapons and lands; Sigurth alone | of all had been lord, If a little longer | his life had been."
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Brynhild, Buthli.
"8. Then Brynhild spake, | the daughter of Buthli: "Well shall ye joy | in weapons and lands; Sigurth alone | of all had been lord, If a little longer | his life had been."
attestation: The stanza references rulership or authority involving Brynhild.
"8. Then Brynhild spake, | the daughter of Buthli: "Well shall ye joy | in weapons and lands; Sigurth alone | of all had been lord, If a little longer | his life had been."
relationship: The stanza implies enmity between Brynhild and Buthli.
"14. Brynhild awoke, | the daughter of Buthli, The warrior's daughter, | ere dawn of day: "Love me or hate me, | the harm is done, And my grief cries out, | or else I die.""
attribution: Brynhild delivers a speech in the verse.
"15. Silent were all | who heard her speak, And nought of the heart | of the queen they knew, Who wept such tears | the thing to tell That laughing once | of the men she had won.
Brynhild spake:"
attestation: The stanza describes travel or movement involving Brynhild.
"21. "In the court was greater | gladness then The day my Sigurth | Grani saddled, And went forth Brynhild's | hand to win, That woman ill, | in an evil hour.""
attestation: Brynhild is characterized by greatness in the verse.
"21. "In the court was greater | gladness then The day my Sigurth | Grani saddled, And went forth Brynhild's | hand to win, That woman ill, | in an evil hour.""
attestation: Brynhild is characterized by gladness in the verse.
"21. "In the court was greater | gladness then The day my Sigurth | Grani saddled, And went forth Brynhild's | hand to win, That woman ill, | in an evil hour.""
relationship: Brynhild is identified as the offspring of Buthli.
"22. Then Brynhild spake, | the daughter of Buthli: "May the witch now husband | and children want Who, Guthrun, loosed | thy tears at last, And with magic today | hath made thee speak.""
attestation: The stanza describes an act of creation involving Brynhild.
"22. Then Brynhild spake, | the daughter of Buthli: "May the witch now husband | and children want Who, Guthrun, loosed | thy tears at last, And with magic today | hath made thee speak.""
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Brynhild, Buthli.
"25. By the pillars she stood, | and gathered her strength, From the eyes of Brynhild, | Buthli's daughter, Fire there burned, | and venom she breathed, When the wounds she saw | on Sigurth then. "
attestation: Brynhild is associated with the location Denmark.
"25. By the pillars she stood, | and gathered her strength, From the eyes of Brynhild, | Buthli's daughter, Fire there burned, | and venom she breathed, When the wounds she saw | on Sigurth then. "
relationship: The stanza implies enmity between Brynhild and Gunnar.
"19. "If sons we five | shall soon beget, Great, methinks, | our race shall grow; Well I see | whence lead the ways; Too bitter far | is Brynhild's hate."
Gunnar spake:"
- attribution: Brynhild delivers a speech in the verse.
"32. "A worthier woman | wouldst thou have been If before thine eyes | we had Atli slain; If thy brother's bleeding | body hadst seen And the bloody wounds | that thou shouldst bind."
Brynhild spake:"
attestation: The stanza contains a narrative element involving Brynhild.
"27. "No son will ride, | though seven thou hast, To the Thing as the son | of their sister rides; Well I see | who the ill has worked, On Brynhild alone | lies the blame for all."
attribution: Brynhild delivers a speech in the verse.
"2. "What wouldst thou have | from Valland here, Fickle of heart, | in this my house? Gold-goddess, now, | if thou wouldst know, Heroes' blood | from thy hands hast washed."
Brynhild spake:"
- attestation: The stanza references wealth or gifts involving Brynhild.
"2. "What wouldst thou have | from Valland here, Fickle of heart, | in this my house? Gold-goddess, now, | if thou wouldst know, Heroes' blood | from thy hands hast washed."
Brynhild spake:"
- attestation: The stanza describes death or destruction involving Brynhild.
"4. "Thou wast, Brynhild, | Buthli's daughter, For the worst of evils | born in the world; To death thou hast given | Gjuki's children, And laid their lofty | house full low."
Brynhild spake:"
attestation: The passage describes violence or death involving Brynhild.
"Had the compiler seen fit to put the Atli lays immediately after the Helreith Brynhildar, he would have needed only a very brief transitional note to make the course of the story clear, but as the second Guthrun lay, the next poem in the collection, is a lament following the death of Guthrun's brothers, some sort of a narrative bridge was manifestly needed."
relationship: The stanza references a brother of Brynhild.
"28. "A husband now | I will not have, Nor wife of Brynhild's | brother be; It beseems me not | with Buthli's son Happy to be, | and heirs to bear."
Grimhild spake:"
attestation: The stanza describes death or destruction involving Brynhild.
"15. "But Brynhild the helm | he bade to wear, A wish-maid bright | he said she should be; For a nobler maid | would never be born On earth, he said, | if death should spare her."
attestation: Brynhild is characterized by nobility in the verse.
"15. "But Brynhild the helm | he bade to wear, A wish-maid bright | he said she should be; For a nobler maid | would never be born On earth, he said, | if death should spare her."
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Brynhild, she.
"17. "Then battle was fought | with the foreign swords, And the city was broken | that Brynhild had; Not long thereafter, | but all too soon, Their evil wiles | full well she knew."
attestation: The stanza references rulership or authority involving Brynhild.
"17. "Then battle was fought | with the foreign swords, And the city was broken | that Brynhild had; Not long thereafter, | but all too soon, Their evil wiles | full well she knew."
attestation: The stanza describes cosmological elements involving Brynhild.
"16. "At her weaving Brynhild | sat in her bower, Lands and folk | alike she had; The earth and heaven | high resounded When Fafnir's slayer | the city saw."
attestation: Brynhild is characterized by wisdom in the verse.
"The title "Guthrunarhvot," which appears in the Codex Regius, really applies only to stanzas 1–8, all presumably borrowed from the "old" ballad of Hamther. The rest of the poem is simply another Guthrun"
The > part in a few of the Eddic poems. > "T."
attestation: The stanza describes warfare or combat involving Brynhild, Volsungasaga.
"20. Stanzas 20–21 are all that remains of the dialogue between Brynhild and Sigurth from the poem to which stanzas 2–4 belong; cf. Introductory Note. In the intervening lost stanzas Brynhild has evidently warned"
attestation: Brynhild is characterized by age in the verse.
"37. Lines 3–4 may well have come from the old Sigurth-Brynhild poem, like stanzas 2–4 and 20–21, being inserted here, where they do not fit particularly well, in place of the two lines with which the eleventh"
The > part in a few of the Eddic poems. > Pronouncing Index
relationship: Brynhild is the wife of Gunnar
"Bryn′-hild, wife of Gunnar"
attestation: Sigdrifa is identified with Brynhild
"Sigr′-drif-a, Brynhild"