The Whetting of Gudrun (Gudrunarhvot) Summary

After Gudrun kills Atli she goes to the sea and attempts to drown herself. However, unable to sink, she floats across the fjord to the land of King Ionakr and marries him. The couple have three sons: Sorli, Erp, and Hamdir. Gudrun's daughter by Sigurd, Svanhild, is brought up there and married to Iormunrekk. Bikki, Iormunrekk's advisor, tells the king's son, Randver, that he should marry Svanhild. When the king hears this he has Randver hung and Svanhild trampled by horses. Gudrun then speaks to her sons.

The poet overhears the quarrelling of Gudrun and her sons and relates the following tale. Gudrun asks why the boys sit and sleep and are cheerful when their sister has been killed. She says that her sons have failed to become brave like her brothers who would have...