Palpable Pathetic Fallacy

Poul Anderson's "The Sorrow Of Odin The Goth" is an inexhaustibly rich text. As the narrative approaches its climax, Anderson deploys almost palpable pathetic fallacy. Carl Farness, Time Patrolman, partly observes and partly lives events that were the source of a tragic story. Thus, he foreknows what must happen although the details may differ.

As the year 372 nears its end, so do the happy lives of the Teurings:

"On a dark day before solstice, when a few snowflakes drifted down onto frozen earth, hounds barked outside the hall." (Time Patrol, p. 439)

Randwar and two farmhands, all armed, must go to see who approaches. Randwar's wife, Swanhild, comes only when she has heard that there is no danger. She and her white gown are the only brightness - and soon will be no more. The Wanderer, Carl, visits but is unhappy and soon must leave.

Later, when Carl leaves the house of his great-grandson, Hathawulf:

"Soon he was walking off, he and his spear-staff, down a road where lately fallen leaves flew on a chill blast.
"And soon after that, the terrible news came to Heorot." (p. 443)

Lately fallen leaves parallel a soon-to-be-fallen house. Carl goes "...down a road...," down Hell-road? Previously, when young Alawin had accompanied the Wanderer on a journey, those who watched the young man riding away beside the blue-cloaked gray-beard:

"...did not utter the thought that was in them: how yonder sight recalled that Wodan was the god who led away the souls of the dead." (p. 436)

What terrible news comes to Heorot? On "...a bleak evening, where wind shrilled..." (p. 444), Ermanaric the king has Alawin hanged and Swanhild trampled to death. History is following the script of the Volsungasaga. Now Hathawulf and his brother must go to their deaths...