#barnstokk

[gudvina]

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.

[ardenssolis]

Rider: “Oh, so he’s a swordsman who obtained something with supernatural wisdom and a demon sword user too.” Lancer: “Yes, Pharaoh.” Rider: “Let me guess his name before you say it. Haha. I know who it is. The son of the hero Sigmund, the one who overcame Barnstokk, the Sigurd who drove the divine horse, Sleipnir! That great hero is the one you loved!” Lancer: “As expected of a pharaoh. Yes, that’s correct. But…...” Rider: “Something wrong?” Lancer: “I, I love him even now. That is why……” Rider: “I see. Then, I was mistaken. Forgive my rudeness, Lancer. It’s true, even if we are nothing more than a mere shadow engraved into human reason, we again have the same soul and we remember the days of our past as our own experiences. If that’s true, then I can say that my feelings for Queen Nefertari are not a thing of the past, but a love that lasts forever further than the present.” Lancer: “Yes.” Rider: “It’s the same for you too.”

This is a conversation between Ozy and B.rynhildr, but like – I love how he instantly corrects himself after he laughs and casually brings this conversation to light. He apologizes to Bryn because he realizes that this is a sensitive topic to her, and that despite her curse, her heart is still very much on the one she loved in life and he understands this. He no longer treats what they discuss as an amusing exchange and adopts a more solemn approach.

[midwintercrone]

Sigmunds Schwert  by Johannes Gehrts (1889). A mysterious, Odin-like figure presents the sword he has stuck into the tree Barnstokk.

[chthonios]

Barnstokk, in the Hall of the Volsungs, by Alan Lee

[gudvina]

the analogy between Barnstokk (idiomatically family tree) and the tree that kept Volsung' sons in place when being eaten by the she-wolf, and of her possibly being Siggeir's mother.

And the tree trunk bursting as Sigmund breaks free.