Grendel's Lupine Mother: An Analogue in Vǫlsunga saga.

This article reconsiders the figure of Grendel's mother, with particular attention to her liminal identity between beast, human, and aristocratic woman. Building on previous scholarship concerning her lupine associations and connections to women of the Vǫlsung-Nibelung tradition, it proposes a new a...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Neophilologus Vol. 110; no. 2; pp. 187 - 204
Autor principal: Xu, Na
Formato: Literary Criticism
Publicado: Springer Nature Jun2026
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:This article reconsiders the figure of Grendel's mother, with particular attention to her liminal identity between beast, human, and aristocratic woman. Building on previous scholarship concerning her lupine associations and connections to women of the Vǫlsung-Nibelung tradition, it proposes a new analogue for her: Siggeir's lupine mother (Signy's mother-in-law) in Vǫlsunga saga. By tracing the cumulative parallels between these two figures, this article argues that the wolf motif not only emphasizes her bestial traits but also illuminates the integrated complexity of her identity. Analysis of Siggeir's lupine mother demonstrates that monstrosity, aristocracy, and motherhood are not mutually exclusive but can coexist in a single, culturally legible character. This insight invites a reconsideration of Grendel's mother's hybrid nature and the role of the wolf imagery in actively negotiating and reconciling these facets in her character.