The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún

work by Tolkien

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July 18, 2026

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J.R.R. Tolkien's The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún is a work of narrative poetry inspired by Old Norse legends, specifically drawing from the Poetic Edda. The poem retells the tragic tales of Sigurd, a heroic figure in Norse mythology, and Gudrún, a heroine whose life is marked by suffering and revenge.123

A central part of the legend involves Sigurd slaying the dragon Fafnir, who was guarding a cursed treasure. This act, advised by Odin, leads to Sigurd gaining the ability to understand the language of birds. The story also encompasses Sigurd's marriage to Gudrún and the subsequent tragic events that befall them and their families, often revolving around themes of fate, betrayal, and vengeance. Tolkien's work aims to capture the style and spirit of these ancient northern myths.421

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J.R.R. Tolkien
Other works
… (1982) and Roverandom (1998), and The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún (2009), two narrative poems drawn from northern legend and written in the style of the Poetic Edda. The Fall of Arthur (2013) is an unfinished verse exploration of Arthurian legend inspired by the Middle English Morte Arthure.
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… (1982) and Roverandom (1998), and The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún (2009), two narrative poems drawn from northern legend and written in the style of the Poetic Edda. The Fall of Arthur (2013) is an unfinished verse exploration of Arthurian legend inspired by the Middle English Morte Arthure.
Read More