QUEEN SIGRID THE HAUGHTY by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
Queen Sigrid finds out that the gold ring King Olaf sent her as a wedding gift is really just copper, revealing his true character.
The poem
Queen Sigrid the Haughty sat proud and aloft In her chamber, that looked over meadow and croft. Heart's dearest, Why dost thou sorrow so? The floor with tassels of fir was besprent, Filling the room with their fragrant scent. She heard the birds sing, she saw the sun shine, The air of summer was sweeter than wine. Like a sword without scabbard the bright river lay Between her own kingdom and Norroway. But Olaf the King had sued for her hand, The sword would be sheathed, the river be spanned. Her maidens were seated around her knee, Working bright figures in tapestry. And one was singing the ancient rune Of Brynhilda's love and the wrath of Gudrun. And through it, and round it, and over it all Sounded incessant the waterfall. The Queen in her hand held a ring of gold, From the door of Lade's Temple old. King Olaf had sent her this wedding gift, But her thoughts as arrows were keen and swift. She had given the ring to her goldsmiths twain, Who smiled, as they handed it back again. And Sigrid the Queen, in her haughty way, Said, "Why do you smile, my goldsmiths, say?" And they answered: "O Queen! if the truth must be told, The ring is of copper, and not of gold!" The lightning flashed o'er her forehead and cheek, She only murmured, she did not speak: "If in his gifts he can faithless be, There will be no gold in his love to me." A footstep was heard on the outer stair, And in strode King Olaf with royal air. He kissed the Queen's hand, and he whispered of love, And swore to be true as the stars are above. But she smiled with contempt as she answered: "O King, Will you swear it, as Odin once swore, on the ring?" And the King: "O speak not of Odin to me, The wife of King Olaf a Christian must be." Looking straight at the King, with her level brows, She said, "I keep true to my faith and my vows." Then the face of King Olaf was darkened with gloom, He rose in his anger and strode through the room. "Why, then, should I care to have thee?" he said,-- "A faded old woman, a heathenish jade!" His zeal was stronger than fear or love, And he struck the Queen in the face with his glove. Then forth from the chamber in anger he fled, And the wooden stairway shook with his tread. Queen Sigrid the Haughty said under her breath, "This insult, King Olaf, shall be thy death!" Heart's dearest, Why dost thou sorrow so? V
Queen Sigrid finds out that the gold ring King Olaf sent her as a wedding gift is really just copper, revealing his true character. When Olaf arrives and insists she convert to Christianity, she stands her ground, and after he strikes her, she vows to take revenge. This is a tale of pride, betrayal, and a woman who will not be intimidated.
Line-by-line
Queen Sigrid the Haughty sat proud and aloft / In her chamber, that looked over meadow and croft.
The floor with tassels of fir was besprent, / Filling the room with their fragrant scent.
She heard the birds sing, she saw the sun shine, / The air of summer was sweeter than wine.
Like a sword without scabbard the bright river lay / Between her own kingdom and Norroway.
Her maidens were seated around her knee, / Working bright figures in tapestry.
And through it, and round it, and over it all / Sounded incessant the waterfall.
The Queen in her hand held a ring of gold, / From the door of Lade's Temple old.
King Olaf had sent her this wedding gift, / But her thoughts as arrows were keen and swift.
She had given the ring to her goldsmiths twain, / Who smiled, as they handed it back again.
And Sigrid the Queen, in her haughty way, / Said, 'Why do you smile, my goldsmiths, say?'
And they answered: 'O Queen! if the truth must be told, / The ring is of copper, and not of gold!'
The lightning flashed o'er her forehead and cheek, / She only murmured, she did not speak:
'If in his gifts he can faithless be, / There will be no gold in his love to me.'
A footstep was heard on the outer stair, / And in strode King Olaf with royal air.
He kissed the Queen's hand, and he whispered of love, / And swore to be true as the stars are above.
But she smiled with contempt as she answered: 'O King, / Will you swear it, as Odin once swore, on the ring?'
And the King: 'O speak not of Odin to me, / The wife of King Olaf a Christian must be.'
Looking straight at the King, with her level brows, / She said, 'I keep true to my faith and my vows.'
Then the face of King Olaf was darkened with gloom, / He rose in his anger and strode through the room.
'Why, then, should I care to have thee?' he said, -- / 'A faded old woman, a heathenish jade!'
His zeal was stronger than fear or love, / And he struck the Queen in the face with his glove.
Then forth from the chamber in anger he fled, / And the wooden stairway shook with his tread.
Queen Sigrid the Haughty said under her breath, / 'This insult, King Olaf, shall be thy death!'
Tone & mood
The poem deliberately shifts its tone as it progresses. It starts off warm and pastoral, evoking images of summer air, birdsong, and fragrant fir trees. However, this warmth quickly turns to cold suspicion when the ring comes into play. The tone then transitions through controlled anger, icy disdain, and ultimately settles into a quiet, deadly resolve. Longfellow keeps Sigrid's voice low throughout, which adds a menacing quality that feels more threatening than any loud outburst. In contrast, Olaf's tone fluctuates from romantic to bullying to desperate — he’s all noise without any real depth. The folk-song refrain ('Heart's dearest, / Why dost thou sorrow so?') adds an unsettling layer, reminiscent of a ballad recounting events that are already known to end in tragedy.
Symbols & metaphors
- The copper ring — The ring serves as the central symbol of the poem. Initially given as a gold wedding gift, it turns out to be copper beneath the surface, reflecting Olaf's character — striking at first glance, but ultimately worthless inside. Sigrid interprets it accurately as an omen of his love.
- The river as an unsheathed sword — The bright river, described as 'like a sword without a scabbard' between the two kingdoms, symbolizes the political tension that marriage was intended to ease. This imagery also hints at the violence ahead — the sword remains drawn throughout the poem.
- The glove — Olaf striking Sigrid with his glove serves as both a physical hit and a symbolic insult. In medieval and Norse culture, a glove-strike was a recognized way to challenge someone or show contempt. He’s not just insulting her as a woman; he’s rejecting her authority as a queen.
- The tapestry of Brynhilda and Gudrun — The maidens weaving and singing about these two legendary Norse women — both wronged and vengeful — reflect Sigrid's own situation. Longfellow employs this myth to show that Sigrid is part of a tradition of women who refuse to swallow their insults quietly.
- The waterfall — Running beneath the whole scene, the waterfall symbolizes a force that is constant, unstoppable, and indifferent to human drama. It reflects Sigrid's own nature — she cannot be redirected or worn down.
- Lade's Temple — The ring is from the door of a pagan Norse temple, which makes it sacred in Sigrid's faith. When Olaf sends a fake version of this object, it’s not just cheap — it’s a desecration. His later demand for her to convert only adds to the insult.
Historical context
Longfellow published this poem as part of his *Tales of a Wayside Inn* collection, drawing inspiration from the Norse sagas, especially the *Heimskringla* by Snorri Sturluson. The historical figure Sigrid Storråda, also known as Sigrid the Haughty, was a Swedish queen who, according to the sagas, turned down and humiliated suitors who pressured her to convert to Christianity. She later played a role in the death of Olaf Tryggvason at the Battle of Svolder in 1000 AD. Longfellow had a strong interest in Norse and Scandinavian themes throughout his career; his earlier work, *The Saga of King Olaf*, touches on similar topics. The poem reflects a Victorian fascination with medieval Norse culture, but Longfellow portrays Sigrid in a notably sympathetic light, framing her refusal to convert as an act of integrity rather than mere stubbornness. The ballad form, complete with its folk-song refrain, connects the poem to oral tradition.
FAQ
Yes, but the historical details are unclear. Sigrid Storråda is mentioned in various Norse sagas, particularly in the *Heimskringla*, where she is depicted as a Swedish queen who resisted converting to Christianity and played a role in the downfall of Olaf Tryggvason. Historians discuss how much of the saga is based on legend, yet the main elements — a proud queen, a spurned suitor, and a subsequent battle — are generally considered to have some historical foundation.
'Haughty' refers to an arrogant pride, where one looks down on others. In the poem, Longfellow uses it to describe a title she has rightfully earned — a queen who won't tolerate condescension, who evaluates gifts for their true worth, and who responds to a king's insults with a vow of vengeance instead of tears. The term translates her Norse epithet *Storråda*, meaning 'the strong-counselled' or 'the ambitious.' 'Haughty' effectively reflects the English understanding of her reputation.
The poem leaves Olaf's motivation unclear, and that uncertainty is intentional. He could have been stingy, indifferent, or intentionally provoking her. Sigrid doesn't waste time guessing — she arrives at a straightforward conclusion: a man who is dishonest with a small present will be untrustworthy in love. The saga tradition implies that Olaf was more focused on political and religious power than on Sigrid as a person.
Brynhilda and Gudrun are characters from the *Volsunga Saga* and the *Nibelungenlied* — two of the most renowned women in Norse and Germanic legend. Brynhilda faced betrayal from her beloved, while Gudrun was engulfed by sorrow and later by anger. By having the maidens sing their tale while Sigrid holds the false ring, Longfellow subtly positions Sigrid within the same legacy of women who have been wronged and who react with strength beyond mere sadness.
The refrain comes from a traditional folk song or ballad, acting as a chorus that exists outside the main narrative. It addresses someone — maybe Sigrid or the reader — and poses a question about sorrow. Initially, it feels like a soft, melancholic inquiry. However, by the end, following the insult and the vow, it takes on a different tone: the sorrow is Olaf's, as he has made a deadly enemy. This refrain sets the stage for the poem, suggesting it’s a ballad already destined for a tragic conclusion.
The poem frames it straightforwardly as an issue of integrity — she states, 'I keep true to my faith and my vows.' Rather than being depicted as anti-Christian, she comes across as pro-commitment. The irony that Longfellow creates is that Sigrid, the 'heathen,' is the one honoring her promise, while Olaf, the Christian king, sent a fake ring and then hit a woman. Her refusal highlights who genuinely demonstrates moral consistency in this situation.
According to the Norse sagas, Sigrid honored her vow. She went on to marry the Danish king Sweyn Forkbeard and played a key role in forming the coalition that defeated Olaf Tryggvason at the Battle of Svolder in 1000 AD, where Olaf met his end. Longfellow's poem concludes right at the moment of the vow, leaving the rest to history — which adds a sense of finality to the closing lines.
The poem uses rhyming couplets and a strong, marching rhythm—mostly anapestic—which creates a ballad-like forward momentum. The folk-song refrain ('Heart's dearest, / Why dost thou sorrow so?') breaks into the couplets at the start and finish, framing the story as a classic ballad. Longfellow chose this form intentionally; he aimed for the poem to feel like it had been sung for centuries rather than written in a Victorian study.