The Human and the Divine in The Saga of the Volsungs Sara Manlowe College

The relationship between the human and the divine in The Saga of the Volsungs is best exemplified by Odin and the Volsung family, firstly in Odin’s efforts to ensure the continuation of the Volsung family line, then in the manner in which Odin interferes with the lives of both Sigmund and Sigurd, ultimately leading them to their deaths. Whether the deeds Sigmund and Sigurd accomplish through the intervention of Odin make their deaths worth it, however, is a question that depends solely on the disposition of the individual in question.

To begin with, it is important to note that Odin is the Volsung family’s ancestor - therefore the relationship between human and divine is, in this case, quite literal. The very first sentence, in fact, of The Saga of the Volsungs starts, “Here we begin by telling of a man who was named Sigi, and it was said that he was the son of Odin” (35). If the phrase ‘it was said’ leaves any doubt as to the veracity of the claim, the fact that Odin guides the exiled Sigi on a journey that culminates, ultimately, in Sigi becoming a successful raider and seizing a kingdom to rule, serves as strong evidence. Thus, through Odin’s intervention, the Volsungs become a line of kings, rather than Sigi dying as an...