3-1

Into the World of Heroes

How are the heroes' stories connected?

The second half of the Codex Regius contains poems about human heroes. Here, human characters take the leading roles. As you read, look out for the heroes who appear and the family ties that connect them.

The stories of the Volsung family and the family of Gjuki are linked by family ties. As well as reading each tale on its own, notice who belongs to which family. Following these relationships can help you keep track of the names you meet.

Even when human heroes take the lead, the gods still have a part to play. Odin and Loki appear from time to time. You will keep meeting them as you read the heroes' stories. As you follow the human families, watch for the moments when a god appears.

Changes from the sourcesThe heroic poems appear in the second half of the Codex Regius, and Skaldskaparmal also contains tales of heroes. In the Codex Regius, the poems about heroes follow those about the gods. On this site, these tales come before the chapter on Loki's binding, since Loki still moves about freely in them.
Illustration of Into the World of Heroes