The Poetic Edda on Fenrir

The > Volume I > Introductory Note

• attestation: Fenrir is characterized by age in the verse.

  "40. The giantess old | in Ironwood sat, In the east, and bore | the brood of Fenrir; Among these one | in monster's guise Was soon to steal | the sun from the sky."

• attestation: The stanza describes travel or movement involving Fenrir.

  "46. "Much have I fared, | much have I found, Much have I got of the gods: Whence comes the sun | to the smooth sky back, When Fenrir has snatched it forth?"

Vafthruthnir spake:"

• relationship: Thor is the sibling of Fenrir.

  "24. The venomous serpent | swiftly up To the boat did Thor, | the bold one, pull; With his hammer the loathly | hill of the hair Of the brother of Fenrir | he smote from above."

The > Volume I > Notes

• attestation: Fenrir was one of three children of Loki and the giantess Angrbotha, along with Mithgarthsorm and the goddess Hel

  "the wolf Fenrir, one of the children of Loki and the giantess Angrbotha (the others being Mithgarthsorm and the goddess Hel)"

• attestation: Fenrir was chained by the gods with Gleipnir, fashioned by a dwarf from six impossible things, and the chaining cost the god Tyr his right hand

  "who was chained by the gods with the marvelous chain Gleipnir, fashioned by a dwarf "out of six things: the noise of a cat's step, the beards of women, the roots of mountains, the nerves of bears, the breath of fishes, and the spittle of birds." The chaining of Fenrir cost the god Tyr his right hand"

• comparison: Fenrir the wolf and his son Skoll are sometimes confused in the sources, with Skoll being the one who steals the sun.

  "Fenrir: there appears to be a confusion between the wolf Fenrir (cf. Voluspo, 39 and note) and his son, the wolf Skoll, who steals the sun"

• attestation: Hrothvitnir ('The Mighty Wolf') is Fenrir, who awaits in chains the final battle and death at the hands of Vithar

  "Hrothvitnir ("The Mighty Wolf"): Fenrir, who awaits in chains the final battle and death at the hands of Vithar"

• attestation: The chained Fenrir roars and his slaver forms the river Vam, according to Snorri

  "according to Snorri, the chained Fenrir "roars horribly, and the slaver runs from his mouth, and makes the river called Vam; he lies there till the doom of the gods.""

• attestation: Fenrir is Loki's son who slays Odin (Sigfather) in the final battle

  "The wolf: Fenrir, Loki's son, who slays Othin (Sigfather: "Father of Victory") in the final battle"

• attestation: The wolf Fenrir was born of Loki and the giantess Angrbotha

  "Regarding the wolf Fenrir, born of Loki and the giantess Angrbotha"

The > Volume Ii > Introductory Note

• attestation: Fenrir is characterized by age in the verse.

  "42. "Thou didst not father | Fenrir's-wolves, Though older thou art | than all I know; For they gelded thee | in Gnipalund, The giant-women | at Thorsnes once."