Fenrir: The Untamable Wolf of Norse Mythology And Uber Werewolf

Posted on April 4th, 2024

"He Who Dwells In The Marches"

Within the vast and mystical Norse mythology, few creatures capture the imagination as fiercely as Fenrir, the untamable wolf.

This legendary beast, born of gods and giants, embodies the raw power and the wild, untamed forces of nature.

Through the story of Fenrir, we are invited into a world where the boundaries between the divine and the monstrous blur, offering us profound insights into the Viking worldview and Norse Cosmos.

This article delves into the heart of such tales, exploring Fenrir's origins, his pivotal role in Norse sagas, and the meanings behind his name, shedding light on his enduring legacy.

The Story of Fenrir Origins and Growth

A collection of writings about Norse mythology called the Poetic Edda, known in several different manuscripts from the 13th and 14th century, is the basis for Fenrir and Teiwaz (Tyr). The writings were complied into the Prose Edda by law speaker and poet Snorri Sturluson in Iceland, who was surprisingly a Christian.

Originally hailed for preserving old Norse mythologies about the world's creation and it's end in Ragnarök, it became more a treatise on how to write skaldic poetry instead. The Poetic Edda is a collection of 31 "poems" of unknown origin, and is said to be challenging to read if one is not well versed in Norse mythology. (A passage example follows soon)

Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda is considered to be easier on the reader and samples from the more influential poems depicting Odin and Thor, and other Norse tales. Is there an added Christian spin? Some think the answer is yes.

In the aforementioned Eddas, Fenrir, the most formidable of Loki's offspring, has two siblings, Jörmungandr, the World Serpent, and Hel, the ruler of the underworld.

Fenrir's size and strength astonished the gods from his earliest days, and they became increasingly concerned of his potential for causing great destruction.

The Gods' Dilemma

Recognizing the threat Fenrir posed, the Aesir gods devised a series of tests to bind him, under the guise of playful challenges. Yet, with each attempt, Fenrir broke free, showcasing his immense power.

These attempts culminated in the creation of Gleipnir, a magical fetter crafted by dwarves from the sound of a cat's footstep, the beard of a woman, the roots of a mountain, the sinews of a bear, the breath of a fish, and the spit of a bird. Deceptively thin yet impossibly strong, Gleipnir was the gods' last hope in containing Fenrir's might.

Betrayal and Prophecy

Fenrir's binding was achieved through deceit, with the god Tyr (Teiwaz) placing his hand in Fenrir's mouth as a pledge of good faith. When Fenrir found himself ensnared by Gleipnir and realized the gods' treachery, he bit off Tyr's hand, fulfilling the prophecy that he would be the bane of the gods until the end of the world.

This act of betrayal set the stage for Fenrir's role in Ragnarök, sealing his fate as an instrument of cosmic destruction and a symbol of the wild, untamed forces that even the gods could not control indefinitely.

Fenrir's Role in Viking Stories

Fenrir's role in Viking narratives highlights key lessons on the inevitability of fate and the natural balance between order and chaos. This immense wolf symbolizes the untamed, unpredictable forces of nature, suggesting that even the mightiest powers must bow to the cosmic order. Through Fenrir's saga, the Norse imparted wisdom on the acceptance of predestined paths and the cyclical nature of the world. His story serves as a poignant reminder of the limits of control, teaching respect for the fundamental laws that govern existence and the universe's inherent dualities.

The Role Of Fenris In Teiwaz Lives!

Although Fenris is yet to be revealed in a future issue of the Teiwaz Lives! graphic novel series by author John Pagan, "He who dwells in the marshes" (Fenris) is one of the most formidable of arch enemies, and is first encountered when Teiwaz is still a young boy and concludes with an epic showdown between the two titans. But these events did not occur in the distant past, they occur in the near future. This fierce villain from the old Norse saga is the modern day uber werewolf.

The Name

Fenrir, pronounced “FEN-rir;” Old Norse Fenrir, “He Who Dwells in the Marshes” also known as the Fenris Wolf and Vanargand “monster of van” known to mean the “creature of expectation” because he was prophesied to facilitate the destruction of the gods. Fenrir reflects the wolf's deep connection to the wild and foreboding landscapes of the Norse world, with "Fen" suggesting the aforementioned marshlands—a place beyond the control of civilization. This etymology speaks volumes about Fenrir's character: untamed, formidable, and ensconced in the realms of chaos and unpredictability. Such naming encapsulates the Norse people's reverence and fear of nature's untamable aspects, with Fenrir standing as a living symbol of these primal forces within their mythological canon.

The Passage

The Binding of Fenrir:

"The wolf Fenrir was the most ravenous of beasts, and yet he could never get sufficient food. The gods, therefore, took counsel together and decided to get the wolf bound. But he proved so strong that they could not find anything to hold him with until they sent to the dwarfs for the fetter called Læding. Then they had him brought up to them, and the fetter was brought with them, and the wolf set about breaking it, and it was done with very little effort; so they made another fetter, by name Dromi, twice as strong, but Fenrir broke this one too and broke free.

Then the gods held a council to determine how they should bind the wolf. They at last resolved on casting a very powerful fetter, which they called Gleipnir. It was composed of six things: the noise made by the footfall of a cat, the beards of women, the roots of stones, the breath of fishes, the sinews of bears, and the spittle of birds. Though thou perceive not from what materials so slight a bond could be formed, yet by my troth it shall be fully told thee that, when it was made and brought to the gods, they thanked the messenger well for his errand. Then the gods took the wolf, and led him to the island, and bade him try his strength against this bond. Fenrir, perceiving that their design was to bind him, suspected it was made with art and fraud, so he would not let it be put upon him, unless one of the gods put his hand in his mouth as a pledge that this was done in good faith.

Then Tyr put his right hand into the wolf's mouth, but when Fenrir found himself unable to break the chain he bit off Tyr's hand, - whence Tyr is one-handed, and is not called a reconciler of men."

-- This passage is from Chapter 34 of the Gylfaginning in the Prose Edda.

And for avid Norse Mythology buffs, here it is again in Old English:

"Wæs Fenrisulf mæst unarimed. He wæs beorgende be healfum eallum heafodum, and he næfde æfre mid þam miclan mete gedafenlice. Ac ða foresawon þa godas, þæt hie him gebindan wolden. Ac he hine nele gebindan, ac wolden cweðan, buton hie him gedydan to handa treowað. And þa he þæs behylt, ða geband hie hine þæt he wære gebunden. Ac þa he gewræc, þa hio ongannon þa greinigan, and befrinan, hwæt he moste mid hine feohtan, and he cwæð þæt he ne moste buton þæt he wære geseted. Hie him cwædon þæt hie woldon him swa mid fandianne þæt he moste. And he cwæð þæt man him sealde silc and manigen æng, þæt he þa gewilde him to trymede þæs þe he woldan swa bædlinge forlætan þone feond. And hie him andwyrdon þæt he ne mihte him treowan, gif he hit ne moste aer hie him ut gangan, and hie leton men lædan Læðing and liþan to him. Ac ða he ærest þæt tælde, þa næfde he swa mycelne neod þæt he hit ne moste tobrocen beon. Þa cwædon hie, þæt he moste nu þæt gebrocan gif he hit ær mid swa myclum gebrocode. And he cwæð 'Nis þæt swa lænig þæt ge mid me ær mihton wyrcan, þæt wære swa þyrslice gemanod swa ge mid me þenceað.' And hie cwædon þæt hie hit woldon onfondian hwæt he moste mid hine feohtan, and hie leton wyrcan oþer tæl, and hit wæs swa strangan swa hie mostan wyrcan. Ac þa hie hine gebunden hæfdon, ða cwæð he: 'Nu is soð secgan be þæm tælum þæt ge trymað to bindanne me, þæt hi synt swa þær þe ne mæg ænig syððan beon to me gelic.' And hie sædon þæt he wære to wite. 'Nu is soð secgan be þæm tælum, þæt hi to-brocon, gif þu þat ne forlæteð æt me. And gif þu swa micclum gestreoð þæt þu hie bricest, þonne ge þincð micclum getyndran þonne me,' cwæð he. And þa hie þæt þohton, þa leton hie him bindan, and þa þa he ærest oncneow þæt hie ne mihton to-brocan, þa wearð he oferhygdig and scanode him þone band of, and sprang of sylfum him, and hleop ofer þa muntas and staþulde þone munt þe is geciged Þyrmir. And þa he cume ham to þæm godum, þa hie þa cwidon hwæðer hie him laes gefrian wolden of þæm bendum. Ac hie sædon þæt he ne mæhte him laes onlætan butan he him to handa sealde þæt he him mid gelyfdon. Þa cwæð he: 'Gif ge willen oþre gefean buton þa þe nu æfre wæron gearde, þonne binde ic eow þæt þu art betweox us.' And þa hie hit næfdon swa laes gedon, þa sceawodon hie hu hie him to handa sealde, and þa þe on þæm wæs þe he hit to trymede, and hie woldan him æt-bitean, and he þa on handa hæfde, and hæfð eallum heafodum, buton hie woldan hine læran."

Fenrir and Ragnarök

Fenrir's destiny culminates with Ragnarök, the prophesied apocalypse within Norse mythology, where he fulfills his ominous role by breaking free from his bonds to confront the gods directly.

In this ultimate clash, Fenrir's devouring of Odin, the chief of the gods, symbolizes the overthrow of the old order, leading to the world's destruction and eventual rebirth. This act underscores the inevitable cycle of end and renewal, embodying the Norse belief in the impermanence and renewal of life and cosmos.

Explore Fenrir's Tale Reimagined In The Teiwaz Lives! Graphic Novel Series

Dive into the mythical world of Norse and Greek legends with a modern twist in Teiwaz Lives! #2: The Fall Of Caelus presented by Fury in the Garden Website. Master storyteller John Pagan weaves a tale of adventure, where the legendary warrior Achilles plots to free demigod Caelus (Teiwaz) from the clutches of Lord Acadius. As the narrative unfolds, a treacherous weapon of the gods emerges, threatening to unravel the very fabric of their world.

With Hades' direct involvement, the stakes have never been higher. John Pagan's storytelling prowess brings a fresh perspective to the ancient saga of Fenrir, Norse and Greek mythology. His vivid artwork and intricately crafted plot invite readers into a realm where the supernatural merges seamlessly with reality. The Teiwaz Lives! graphic novel series promises to captivate and enchant, offering a unique exploration of timeless myths reimagined for today's audience.

We invite you to delve deeper into these ancient sagas with the Teiwaz Lives! graphic novel series brought to you by Fury in the Garden Website. Embark with us on a voyage where legendary tales come vividly to life.

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