Book· 1906· Fantasy
The Volsunga Saga: 3 recorded works trace back to it.
Works that record this one as a source, with the evidence a contributor gave.
Tolkien was a professional philologist working on exactly this material, and the Silmarillion takes its architecture from it: a cursed treasure that destroys everyone who holds it, a dragon guarding hoard and speaking with its victim, a hero who kills that dragon from below, and a family destroyed across generations by an oath. Túrin Turambar is Sigurd crossed with Kullervo, and Tolkien said so;
Smaug was directly inspired by Fáfnir, the intelligent, treasure-hoarding dragon whose greed defines the Völsunga Saga.
The broken sword Gram, reforged for Sigurd, is a clear precursor to Narsil/Andúril, the broken sword reforged for Aragorn. Strong heros identity inspired by the saga too!