Voluspá Discussion XXIV - XXVI

XXIV

His spear had Othin          sped o'er the host:

the first of feuds          was thus fought in the world;

was broken in battle          the breastwork of Asgarth,

fighting Vanir          trod the field of battle.

In the first two lines of Stanza 24 we see the first occurrence of the ritual in which Odin throws his spear, Gungnir (The Swaying One), over the battle field, or, more specifically, over the enemy host. According to Hollander, this act dedicates the fallen of the enemy to Odin, almost making the battle itself in to a holy ritual in which the fallen enemy becomes a human sacrifice to the God. This yet again highlights the aspect of Odin as a God of death, and the danger of following too closely where he leads. It also gives some further insight in to the world view of the ancient Norse. No, they weren't all Vikings or warriors, but those who were did have respect within the society...even those who were enemy warriors. There was honor in a battle well fought, even if losses were taken, as is evedenced by the fact that the wall around Asgard fell during this first battle in the world. Clearly the enemy was respected in the fact that those who fell were dedicated to the Allfather. This is a lesson from which we could well learn in this day and age. There is honor in a battle well fought, even if the battle is lost, and even the enemy should be respected as a warrior. One point that leaves me a bit confused is the name of Odin's spear...The Swaying One, Gungnir. Names weren't given without meaning, though I don't quite see what this name could mean.

XXV

Then gathered together          the gods for councel,

 the holy hosts,          and held converse:

who had filled the air          with foul treason,

and to uncouth etins          Oth's wife given.

Stanza 25 tells us how a deal was struck with an etin to rebuild the wall around Asgard. The betrayel is that one among them, probably Loki, promised Odin's wife to the giant if the wall could be built within the allotted time. Loki often makes such bargains on his own, offering or stealing things he has no right to give in exchange for a service. As the Gods defend what is theirs when the bargain fails, the Æsir often eventually benefit from these bargains. Loki is an interesting character. Not exactly evil, and therefore attempts to equate him with the Christian devil are faulty, but certainly not harmless. Like Odin, he is very dangerous, but where the danger in following Odin lies in the quest for knowledge at all costs and his association with death, the danger in Loki is that he is a creature of pure selfishness. This also highlights an interesting aspect of the Norse world view. This creature, who will eventually bring about the battle of Ragnarok and the fall of the Gods, is not a force of destruction (that role is held by the etins), but rather a force of selfishness. He acts only out of self-interest. His acts that benefit the Gods, and by extension the world of men, come about purely due to the fact that the Gods will not allow what is theirs to be taken by treachery, and in the process of defending what is theirs, gain from the spoils of war. 

XXVI

Thewy Thor then          overthrew the foe-

he seldom sits          when of such he hears:

were sworn oaths broken,          and solemn vows,

gods' plighted troth,          the pledges given.

In any case, we see Thor acting in his role as the protector of Asgard. As is often the case, Loki's actions have resulted in a danger to the Gods, and Thor moves to protect them. We'll speak more of Thor later, but for now it is enough to know that where Loki is, Thor is never far.