# Tale II: How Hagen Slew the Griffin explained — Gudrun

> Chapter companion for Gudrun by Anonymous.

## What happens

Hagen, carried off by a griffin as a child, falls from its grasp and hides in a cave where he meets three kidnapped princesses. They raise him with wild food until he grows strong. One day, he finds washed-up armor and weapons, slays the griffins, and later persuades a passing ship's earl to rescue them all from the rocky island.

## Themes in this chapter

### Suffering and Endurance

Hagen endures hunger, isolation, and danger from griffins, growing up in hardship before overcoming his captors.

### Fate and Divine Providence

God's protection is repeatedly invoked: Hagen is saved from being devoured, the maidens are preserved, and divine help enables his victory.

## Character check-ins

### Hagen

The young prince of Ireland, carried off by a griffin, survives in a cave with three maidens, slays the griffins, and arranges their rescue.

### Sigeband

Mentioned as the father of Hagen; the child is referred to as 'Sigeband's darling child.'

## Key lines

> Hagen, falling from the grasp of one of the young griffins, crawls into a cave, where he finds three young daughters of kings, who had also been carried off by the griffins.

After being dropped by a young griffin, Hagen hides in a cave and discovers three kidnapped princesses living there.

_Introduces the setting and the companions who will share Hagen's exile._

> He with strength but youthful the tightened string drew out, And arrows swift and many from the well-bent bow he shot. Alas! he did not hit him; what hope of his ill-luck turning? Then he of the sword bethought him; he heard the maids bewailing him and mourning.

Hagen shoots arrows at the griffin but misses, then draws his sword and wounds the creature, eventually killing it.

_Climactic moment where Hagen proves his bravery and skill, turning from prey to hunter._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/gudrun_se/chapters/tale-ii-how-hagen-slew-the-griffin
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/gudrun_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/gudrun_se/chapters