What is the Long Serpent?

The Long Serpent (*Ormen Lange* in Norwegian) was Olaf Tryggvason's flagship—said to be one of the largest and most remarkable warships ever constructed in Viking-age Scandinavia. Its name was so well-known that it became part of legend. In the poem, its destruction clearly signals that Olaf's cause has failed.

Why does Kolbiorn jump from the ship with Olaf?

Kolbiorn leaps into action as a decoy. The two men look similar enough—both have golden hair and carry shields—that Eric's men can't distinguish between them in the chaos. Kolbiorn's shield is spotted floating and is mistaken for Olaf's, giving the king an opportunity to escape (or at least to vanish). This move shows immense loyalty and comes with significant personal risk.

What does "Remember Jarl Hakon!" mean?

Jarl Hakon was a significant Norwegian ruler, and Olaf Tryggvason is linked to his death — Olaf had effectively overthrown him and seized his power. Hakon's son, Eric of Lade, uses his battle-cry to express a desire for personal revenge. He isn’t merely engaged in a war; he’s settling a score.

Why is the poem called a 'death-drink' if Olaf might have survived?

The title is intentionally vague. In Norse tradition, a "death-drink" might mean a last toast before dying, or it could refer to the sea, which a warrior might metaphorically drink when he drowns. The poem doesn't state that Olaf died; he merely disappears. The title encompasses both interpretations: it could be the drink that led to his death, or the drink he consumed before swimming off into legend.

What collection is this poem from, and how does it fit in?

The poem is included in Longfellow's 1863 collection, *Tales of a Wayside Inn*, which features a group of travelers sharing stories, much like Chaucer's *Canterbury Tales*. The Olaf poems are narrated by a Norwegian musician and create a mini-cycle about the legendary king, culminating in this climactic final episode.

What is the rhyme scheme and why does it feel so driving?

Each stanza features an AAAB rhyme scheme, consisting of three short rhyming lines followed by a longer fourth line that brings in a fresh rhyme sound. This structure creates a driving forward momentum—the three rapid rhymes hit like punches, while the fourth line offers a brief pause before the next stanza strikes down. It’s an ideal fit for a battle poem.

Does Longfellow take a side — does he want us to root for Olaf or see him as just another warrior?

Longfellow clearly admires Olaf. The imagery consistently portrays him in a positive light: his shield is described as "a jewel set in the wide sea-current's eddying ring," while Eric's men are characterized by their "hairy throats." However, Longfellow is too thoughtful a poet to present Olaf as just a straightforward hero. He concludes the poem in mystery rather than triumph, which helps maintain Olaf's humanity instead of transforming him into a simplistic legend.

The Annotated Edition

KING OLAF'S DEATH-DRINK by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

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This poem recounts the tale of King Olaf Tryggvason's final sea battle, where he finds himself surrounded and outnumbered by Earl Eric's forces.

Poet: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Themes: courage, death, identity

The PoemFull text

KING OLAF'S DEATH-DRINK

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

All day has the battle raged, All day have the ships engaged, But not yet is assuaged The vengeance of Eric the Earl. The decks with blood are red, The arrows of death are sped, The ships are filled with the dead, And the spears the champions hurl. They drift as wrecks on the tide, The grappling-irons are plied, The boarders climb up the side, The shouts are feeble and few. Ah! never shall Norway again See her sailors come back o'er the main; They all lie wounded or slain, Or asleep in the billows blue! On the deck stands Olaf the King, Around him whistle and sing The spears that the foemen fling, And the stones they hurl with their hands. In the midst of the stones and the spears, Kolbiorn, the marshal, appears, His shield in the air he uprears, By the side of King Olaf he stands. Over the slippery wreck Of the Long Serpent's deck Sweeps Eric with hardly a check, His lips with anger are pale; He hews with his axe at the mast, Till it falls, with the sails overcast, Like a snow-covered pine in the vast Dim forests of Orkadale. Seeking King Olaf then, He rushes aft with his men, As a hunter into the den Of the bear, when he stands at bay. "Remember Jarl Hakon!" he cries; When lo! on his wondering eyes, Two kingly figures arise, Two Olaf's in warlike array! Then Kolbiorn speaks in the ear Of King Olaf a word of cheer, In a whisper that none may hear, With a smile on his tremulous lip; Two shields raised high in the air, Two flashes of golden hair, Two scarlet meteors' glare, And both have leaped from the ship. Earl Eric's men in the boats Seize Kolbiorn's shield as it floats, And cry, from their hairy throats, "See! it is Olaf the King!" While far on the opposite side Floats another shield on the tide, Like a jewel set in the wide Sea-current's eddying ring. There is told a wonderful tale, How the King stripped off his mail, Like leaves of the brown sea-kale, As he swam beneath the main; But the young grew old and gray, And never, by night or by day, In his kingdom of Norroway Was King Olaf seen again!

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

This poem recounts the tale of King Olaf Tryggvason's final sea battle, where he finds himself surrounded and outnumbered by Earl Eric's forces. Rather than surrender, Olaf leaps from his burning ship into the ocean, with his loyal marshal Kolbiorn following him as a decoy. Olaf is never seen again, and his fate becomes a part of legend.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

All day has the battle raged, / All day have the ships engaged,
Editor's note
Longfellow starts with a powerful repetition of "all day," emphasizing just how exhausting and all-encompassing this sea battle has been. Earl Eric's thirst for revenge fuels the entire conflict, and the poem quickly makes it clear that this fight will not conclude smoothly.
The decks with blood are red, / The arrows of death are sped,
Editor's note
A quick look at the aftermath of battle: red decks, used arrows, and ships filled with the dead. The brief, sharp lines reflect the disorder of fighting. Each image is straightforward and visceral—Longfellow doesn’t sugarcoat the brutality; he presents it like a war correspondent would.
They drift as wrecks on the tide, / The grappling-irons are plied,
Editor's note
The ships aren't sailing anymore; they're just drifting hulks. Grappling-irons are hooks that latch onto enemy vessels, allowing warriors to board. The battle has shifted from long-range archery to violent close-quarters combat. The shouts are now "feeble and few," indicating that most of the men are already dead or dying.
Ah! never shall Norway again / See her sailors come back o'er the main;
Editor's note
The narrator interjects with a sorrowful cry. This marks the emotional turning point of the opening section—a lament for a whole generation of Norwegian warriors who perished at sea. The exclamation "Ah!" feels outdated yet honest in its sorrow. The blue waves transform into a vast grave.
On the deck stands Olaf the King, / Around him whistle and sing
Editor's note
Now we focus on Olaf himself, standing unprotected on deck as spears and stones whiz by. The verbs "whistle and sing" used for the weapons are a classic trick in warrior poetry—they lend the deadly projectiles an almost musical quality, enhancing Olaf's calm defiance and making it feel even more heroic.
In the midst of the stones and the spears, / Kolbiorn, the marshal, appears,
Editor's note
Kolbiorn stands beside his king, shield raised. His loyalty is silent but instant. Longfellow captures this as a moment of human connection amidst complete chaos — one man opting to support another when every instinct tells him to flee.
Over the slippery wreck / Of the Long Serpent's deck
Editor's note
The Long Serpent was Olaf's renowned flagship, among the largest warships ever constructed in Viking-age Norway. Eric moves across its blood-slicked deck with little resistance. The comparison of the falling mast to a snow-covered pine in the forests of Orkadale stands out as one of Longfellow's finest images here — it captures the destruction's enormity and naturalness, much like a tree collapsing in a quiet forest.
Seeking King Olaf then, / He rushes aft with his men,
Editor's note
Eric rushes toward the back of the ship like a hunter closing in on a bear. The bear-at-bay comparison fits well: Olaf is still a threat, and Eric is fully aware of that. The shout "Remember Jarl Hakon!" serves as a rallying cry for the earl whose death Olaf was accused of causing — this is about personal vengeance, not just fighting a war.
Then Kolbiorn speaks in the ear / Of King Olaf a word of cheer,
Editor's note
This is the emotional core of the poem. Kolbiorn leans in to say something to Olaf—Longfellow keeps us in the dark about what it is—and smiles, even though his lip trembles. This air of mystery is intentional: the scheme they devise together is set to deceive Eric entirely. That trembling lip adds a touch of humanity to Kolbiorn, making him feel more authentic instead of just a heroic figure.
Two shields raised high in the air, / Two flashes of golden hair,
Editor's note
The plan unfolds with vivid imagery: two shields, two men with golden hair, and two scarlet flashes — both leap from the ship at the same time. The repetition of "two" creates a reflective effect, which is the intention. Eric struggles to identify which man is the true king.
Earl Eric's men in the boats / Seize Kolbiorn's shield as it floats,
Editor's note
Eric's men seize Kolbiorn's floating shield, thinking they've discovered Olaf's body. The trick works. Meanwhile, drifting away on the other side of the ship is another shield — Olaf's — portrayed as a jewel in the sea's current. The stark difference between the rugged, hairy-throated soldiers and the jewel-like image of Olaf's shield subtly indicates which side the poem favors.
There is told a wonderful tale, / How the King stripped off his mail,
Editor's note
Longfellow shifts into legend mode: "there is told a wonderful tale." He makes it clear that what follows is folklore, not fact. According to the story, Olaf shed his armor and swam away beneath the waves. However, the poem concludes with a sense of lasting mystery—Olaf was never seen again in Norway. Whether he drowned, escaped, or simply faded into myth, the poem leaves that unanswered. That ambiguity is the heart of the matter.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone blends martial and elegiac elements — reminiscent of a war drum that gradually transitions into a funeral march. The opening stanzas convey urgency and rhythm, constructed with short, striking lines. As the poem approaches Olaf's leap and disappearance, the tone shifts to evoke a sense of wonder and sorrow. Longfellow respects Olaf without romanticizing him, and the final stanza leaves a quiet, unresolved impression, akin to a legend that few truly believe yet cannot be disproven.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The Long Serpent: Olaf's flagship is not just a ship; it's a tangible representation of his kingdom. When Eric cuts down its mast, it's like a symbolic beheading of Olaf's authority. The ship's collapse reflects the king's downfall.
The two shields: The paired shields symbolize self-sacrifice and disguise. Kolbiorn's shield acts as a decoy—posing as a false king—while Olaf's shield slips away like a hidden secret. Together, they embody loyalty and the lengths a true friend will go to protect someone they serve.
The billows blue: The sea serves as both a grave and an escape throughout the poem. It devours Norway's warriors completely, and it might have taken Olaf as well — or perhaps it brought him to freedom. This uncertainty of the ocean reflects the poem's choice not to provide Olaf with a clear resolution.
Golden hair: Both men have "golden hair," which gives the decoy its visual appeal. This feature also symbolizes their equality in a moment of shared bravery — two men who resemble kings, because in that instant, both are embodying that role.
The falling mast: Compared to a snow-covered pine falling in a dim forest, the mast's collapse marks the end of Olaf's reign. This forest imagery shifts the violence from the sea to something timeless and natural, implying that even great things fall like trees do — inevitably, and with a haunting beauty.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow included this poem in his 1863 collection *Tales of a Wayside Inn*, which loosely follows the structure of Chaucer's *Canterbury Tales*. The poems about Olaf are inspired by Snorri Sturluson's *Heimskringla*, a 13th-century Norse saga detailing the history of Norwegian kings. The Battle of Svolder, which took place around 1000 AD, was a significant historical event where King Olaf Tryggvason made his last stand aboard the Long Serpent against a coalition of enemies, including Earl Eric of Lade. After the battle, Olaf vanished, and medieval accounts differ on his fate—some say he drowned, others claim he was killed, while a few suggest he escaped. Writing during the American Civil War, Longfellow's focus on themes of heroic sacrifice and uncertain endings resonates with his time, even though the poem doesn't directly highlight this connection.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

Yes. The Battle of Svolder, which took place around 1000 AD, was a genuine naval conflict where King Olaf Tryggvason of Norway was defeated by a coalition that featured Earl Eric of Lade. After the battle, Olaf vanished, and historians have never definitively established whether he drowned, was killed, or managed to survive. Longfellow based his account on the Norse *Heimskringla* sagas for the details.

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