The Norns, ’Wyrd,’ and Fate

A look at the Norse goddesses of fate (the Norns: Urðr, Verðandi, and Skuld), the relationship of Old Norse ’Urðr’ to Old English ’wyrd,’ and the attitude toward fate in the Norse sagas. Dr. Jackson Crawford is Instructor of Nordic Studies and Nordic Program Coordinator at the University of Colorado Boulder (formerly UC Berkeley and UCLA). He is a historical linguist and an experienced teacher of Old Norse, Modern Icelandic, and Norwegian. FAQs: Jackson Crawford’s translation of The Poetic Edda is available now: and his translation of The Saga of the Volsungs with The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok is forthcoming in August 2017: Jackson Crawford’s Patreon page: