Context

The story of Fafnir comes from Norse mythology, the ancient tales told in Scandinavia more than a thousand years ago. These myths were first spoken aloud by storytellers and later written in collections like the Poetic Edda and the Volsunga Saga. They often explore themes of fate, courage, betrayal, and the destructive power of greed.

Fafnir’s story is one of the world’s most famous dragon legends. Unlike many fairy-tale dragons who are born as monsters, Fafnir begins life as a dwarf prince. His transformation into a “worm” shows how greed can twist even a person into something monstrous. The idea of treasure turning friends and family against each other appears in many traditional tales and cautionary fables.

The tale of Sigurd and Fafnir inspired later literature. In the Middle Ages, it was retold in German epics such as the Nibelungenlied. In modern times, writers like J. R. R. Tolkien drew on the story when creating dragons like Smaug in The Hobbit. Reading this story alongside other dark, moral, and mythical tales helps children see how cultures use stories to warn against greed and to celebrate bravery, loyalty, and independent thinking.