The Norse myth that inspired “The Lord of the Rings” - Iseult Gillespie | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

A story about how the theft of Andvari's ring sets off a chain of events that leads to greed, betrayal, and the ultimate destruction of those who possess it.

Key Insights

• 😋 Óðinn, Hœnir, and Loki encounter dwarves and unwittingly set off a chain of events by stealing Andvari's ring.
• 😋 The curse of the ring brings about greed, betrayal, and the transformation of Fáfnir into a dragon.
• 👨 Sigurd becomes involved in the story and ultimately kills the dragon and his foster father Regin.

Transcript

Read and summarize the transcript of this video on Glasp Reader (beta).

Questions & Answers

Q: Who were the three companions exploring the nine realms?

The three companions were Óðinn, Hœnir, and Loki.

Q: How did Loki acquire the otter pelt's gold?

Loki discovered Andvari's treasures after threatening to kill him and took the gold from his lair.

Q: What happened to Fáfnir after he killed his father?

Fáfnir transformed into a dragon after being warped by the ring and fled with the treasure.

Q: How did Sigurd learn of Regin's plan to kill him?

After tasting the heart's blood of the dragon and gaining the ability to understand birds, Sigurd learned of Regin's betrayal.

Q: What was the ultimate fate of those who possessed Andvari's ring?

The ring brought destruction to its owners and tore families apart, as well as inspiring influential works in later centuries.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Óðinn, Hœnir, and Loki encounter dwarves and agree to exchange gold for their freedom, but struggle to fill an otter pelt with gold until Loki discovers Andvari's treasures.

• Loki steals Andvari's ring, which is cursed and brings doom to its owners.

• Fáfnir betrays his father and transforms into a dragon, Sigurd kills the dragon and his foster father Regin, and the curse of the ring continues to bring destruction to those who possess it.