character in the Hávamál of Norse mythology

Loddfáfnir

Loddfáfnir is a character in the Eddic poem Hávamál, the addressee of a long series of advice on morals, ethics and correct conduct. He matters because his name is attached to the part of the poem that distils practical Norse wisdom.

The myth

In the Hávamál, the moral discourse is directed at Loddfáfnir, who receives counsel on how to behave towards others, how to treat friends and enemies, and how to conduct one's life with prudence. Tradition presents him as the listener of a teaching rather than as the hero of any deeds.

The verses, written in a sententious tone, unfold as a dialogue in which the teaching moves from one piece of advice to the next. Beyond this role, the poem offers few details about his origin or family, so his figure is defined almost entirely by the counsel he receives.

Ancient sources: He appears in the Hávamál, one of the poems of the Poetic Edda.

In art

Literature and theatre

• Hávamál