Oddrun
Atli’s sister; she aids Borgny and laments that she could not save Gunnar.
Overview
Opening prose calls Oddrun Atli’s sister and says she was beloved of Gunnar. The poem first has her aid Borgny’s birth with charms, then lets her speak of her love for Gunnar, Atli’s spying, and her late rescue. This lay does not fix her into a wider genealogy or geography from other texts.
Key facts
Birth charms
Stanzas 6–8 have Oddrun use charms to help Borgny deliver a son and a daughter.
Her lament
Stanzas 19–32 let Oddrun recall love, spying, her journey to rescue, and Gunnar’s death.
Relationships
- Borgnyhears of her labour
hears of her labour
- Borgnyrides to aid
rides to aid
- Borgnyhelps with charms
helps with charms
- Borgnythanks her aid
thanks her aid
- Gunnarloves Gunnar
loves Gunnar
- Atlisends spies
sends spies
- Gunnarhears his harp
hears his harp
- Gunnarsails to save him
sails to save him
- Gunnarlaments him
laments him
Story appearances
- The Lament of Oddrun: The Journey and the Failed RescueFigure in the Lament of Oddrun
Atli’s sister; she aids Borgny and laments that she could not save Gunnar.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.