Apr 16, 2023
Odin placing what will be Sigmund's sword, and later Sigurd's, in Barnstokk, the great tree built in the middle of Volsung's Hall, is probably the greatest symbolic foreshadowing of the Saga.
As Barnstokk represents the Volsung family, and the sword symbolically split the tree trunk, thus the sword further separates the family.
This theme first appears with Sigmund, who first loses Signy and his life, separating him from his second wife and unborn child. During Sigmund's fight against Odin the sword splits, and Sigmund's wife stores the shards to gift to her son, Sigurd.
Sigurd Sigmundsson forges a new sword with the shards from his father's, and his family unit is split between the shieldmaiden Brynhildr and his wife Guthrun.
