Editing Fenrir (section)

====''Gylfaginning'' chapter 34====
[[Image:The binding of Fenrir by George Wright.jpg|thumb|''The Binding of Fenrir'' (1908) by [[George Hand Wright|George Wright]]]]
[[Image:Odin und Fenriswolf Freyr und Surt.jpg|thumb|''Odin and Fenriswolf, [[Freyr]] and [[Surtr|Surt]]'' (1905) by [[Emil Doepler]]]]

In chapter 34, High describes Loki, and says that Loki had three children with a woman named [[Angrboða]] located in the land of [[Jötunheimr]]; Fenrisúlfr, the serpent [[Jörmungandr]], and the female being [[Hel (being)|Hel]]. High continues that, once the gods found that these three children were being brought up in the land of [[Jötunheimr]], and when the gods "traced prophecies that from these siblings great mischief and disaster would arise for them" the gods expected a lot of trouble from the three children, partially due to the nature of the mother of the children, yet worse so due to the nature of their father.<ref name="FAULKES26-27">Faulkes (1995:26–27).</ref>

High says that Odin sent the gods to gather the children and bring them to him. Upon their arrival, Odin threw Jörmungandr into "that deep sea that lies round all lands", and then threw Hel into [[Niflheim]], and bestowed upon her authority over [[Norse cosmology|nine worlds]]. However, the Æsir brought up the wolf "at home", and only Týr had the courage to approach Fenrir, and give Fenrir food. The gods noticed that Fenrir was growing rapidly every day, and since all prophecies foretold that Fenrir was destined to cause them harm, the gods formed a plan. The gods prepared [[Numbers in Germanic paganism|three]] [[fetter]]s: The first, greatly strong, was called Leyding. They brought Leyding to Fenrir and suggested that the wolf try his strength with it. Fenrir judged that it was not beyond his strength, and so let the gods do what they wanted with it. At Fenrir's first kick the bind snapped, and Fenrir loosened himself from Leyding. The gods made a second fetter, twice as strong, and named it Dromi. The gods asked Fenrir to try the new fetter, and that should he break this feat of engineering, Fenrir would achieve great fame for his strength. Fenrir considered that, while the fetter was very strong, his strength had grown since he broke Leyding; and also that he would have to take some risks if he were to become famous. Fenrir allowed them to place the fetter.<ref name=FAULKES27>Faulkes (1995:27).</ref>

When the Æsir exclaimed that they were ready, Fenrir shook himself, knocked the fetter to the ground, strained hard, and kicking with his feet, snapped the fetter – breaking it into pieces that flew far into the distance. High says that, as a result, to "loose from Leyding" or to "strike out of Dromi" have become sayings for when something is achieved with great effort. The Æsir started to fear that they would not be able to bind Fenrir, and so Odin sent [[Freyr]]'s messenger [[Skírnir]] down into the land of [[Svartálfaheimr]] to "some [[Dwarf (Germanic mythology)|dwarfs]]" and had them make a fetter called Gleipnir. The dwarves constructed Gleipnir from six mythical ingredients. After an exchange between Gangleri and High, High continues that the fetter was smooth and soft as a silken ribbon, yet strong and firm. The messenger brought the ribbon to the Æsir, and they thanked him heartily for completing the task.<ref name=FAULKES28>Faulkes (1995:28).</ref>

The Æsir went out on to the lake [[Amsvartnir]] sent for Fenrir to accompany them, and continued to the island Lyngvi (Old Norse "a place overgrown with [[Calluna|heather]]").<ref name=SIMEK198>Simek (2007:198).</ref> The gods showed Fenrir the silken fetter Gleipnir, told him to tear it, stated that it was much stronger than it appeared, passed it among themselves, used their hands to pull it, and yet it did not tear. However, they said that Fenrir would be able to tear it, to which Fenrir replied:

{{blockquote|It looks to me that with this ribbon as though I will gain no fame from it if I do tear apart such a slender band, but if it is made with art and trickery, then even if it does look thin, this band is not going on my legs.<ref name=FAULKES28/>}}

The Æsir said Fenrir would quickly tear apart a thin silken strip, noting that Fenrir earlier broke great iron binds, and added that if Fenrir wasn't able to break slender Gleipnir then Fenrir is nothing for the gods to fear, and as a result would be freed. Fenrir responded:

{{blockquote|If you bind me so that I am unable to release myself, then you will be standing by in such a way that I should have to wait a long time before I got any help from you. I am reluctant to have this band put on me. But rather than that you question my courage, let someone put his hand in my mouth as a pledge that this is done in good faith.<ref name=FAULKES28-29>Faulkes (1995:28–29).</ref>}}

With this statement, all of the Æsir look to one another, finding themselves in a dilemma. Everyone refused to place their hand in Fenrir's mouth until Týr put out his right hand and placed it into the wolf's jaws. When Fenrir kicked, Gleipnir caught tightly, and the more Fenrir struggled, the stronger the band grew. At this, everyone laughed, except Týr, who there lost his right hand. When the gods knew that Fenrir was fully bound, they took a cord called Gelgja (Old Norse "fetter")<ref name=ORCHARD54>Orchard (1997:54).</ref> hanging from Gleipnir, inserted the cord through a large stone slab called [[Gjöll]] (Old Norse "scream"),<ref name=ORCHARD57>Orchard (1997:57).</ref> and the gods fastened the stone slab deep into the ground. After, the gods took a great rock called Thviti (Old Norse "hitter, batterer"),<ref name=SIMEK334>Simek (2007:334).</ref> and thrust it even further into the ground as an anchoring peg. Fenrir reacted violently; he opened his jaws very wide, and tried to bite the gods. Then the gods thrust a sword into his mouth. Its hilt touched the lower jaw and its point the upper one; by means of it the jaws of the wolf were spread apart and the wolf gagged. Fenrir "howled horribly", saliva ran from his mouth, and this saliva formed the river Ván (Old Norse "hope").<ref>Simek (2007:350)</ref> There Fenrir will lie until Ragnarök. Gangleri comments that Loki created a "pretty terrible family" though important, and asks why the Æsir did not just kill Fenrir there since they expected great malice from him. High replies that "so greatly did the gods respect their [[Vé (shrine)|holy places]] and places of sanctuary that they did not want to defile them with the wolf's blood even though the prophecies say that he will be the death of Odin."<ref name=FAULKES29>Faulkes (1995:29).</ref>