Bulfinch’s Mythology · Chapter
Of Loki and His Progeny explained
This chapter introduces Loki, the calumniator of the gods, and describes his three monstrous children: the wolf Fenris, the Midgard serpent, and Hela (Death).
What happens
This chapter introduces Loki, the calumniator of the gods, and describes his three monstrous children: the wolf Fenris, the Midgard serpent, and Hela (Death). It recounts how Odin disposed of them—casting the serpent into the ocean, Hela into Niffleheim, and the gods' struggle to bind Fenris with the magical chain Gleipnir, which cost Tyr his hand.
Themes in this chapter
Fate and Free Will
The gods' foreknowledge of the monsters' future evil drives their actions, yet they are unable to prevent the eventual doom (Ragnarok).
Mortality and Immortality
Hela's dominion over those who die of sickness or old age contrasts with the gods' immortality, highlighting the boundary between mortal and divine.
Characters to notice
- Odin
Odin sends for Loki's children and casts the Midgard serpent into the ocean and Hela into Niffleheim.
- Thor
Thor is not directly mentioned, but as a prominent Norse god, he is implied among the gods dealing with Loki's progeny.
- Tyr
Tyr courageously places his hand in Fenris's mouth as a pledge and loses it when the wolf is bound.
Key passages
“He is handsome and well made, but of a very fickle mood and most evil disposition.”
Loki is attractive and well-built, yet his temperament is changeable and malicious.
Describes Loki's deceptive appearance and inner nature.
“Her hall is called Elvidner. Hunger is her table, Starvation her knife, Delay her man, Slowness her maid, Precipice her threshold, Care her bed, and Burning Anguish forms the hangings of the apartments.”
Hela's dwelling, Elvidner, is furnished with personifications of misery: Hunger at the table, Starvation as a knife, Delay as her servant, Slowness as her maid, a precipice at the threshold, Care as her bed, and Burning Anguish as the tapestries.
Vividly illustrates the grim and allegorical nature of Hela's realm.