Der Nibelunge Nôt
• The Nibelungenlied is one of the few great heroic
epics in world literature.
• It was likely composed around 1200 in southern
Germany, between Passau and Vienna.
• It was composed from the same oral literature as
the Volsunga saga, but through an independent
literary tradition in southern Germany.
• Unlike the Eddic poems in Old Norse, all the
earlier poems in German have been lost.
Der Nibelunge Nôt
Der Nibelunge Nôt
• The author of the work is unknown.
• Most of the other authors of German epics
from this period are known – at least by name.
• The author was probably from the Danube
valley, between Passau and Vienna.
• Author’s lack of familiarity with courtly
activities (e.g. hunting) suggests he was a
commoner, probably with church training.
Der Nibelunge Nôt
• Like the Volsunga saga, the Nibelungenlied
deals with marriage, murder, revenge and
destruction in an extended family.
• Unlike the Volsunga saga, the hero of the
Nibelungenlied is not Siegfried, but the two
adversaries Kriemhild and Hagen.
• Unlike the Volsunga saga, the epic is
written in verse:
Der Nibelunge Nôt
1. Âventiure
Uns ist in alten mæren
Von helden lobebæren,
Von fröuden, hôchgezîten,
Von küener recken strîten
wunders vil geseit
von grôzer arebeit,
von weinen und von klagen,
muget ir nu wunder hœren sagen.
Ez wuohs in Búrgónden
Daz in allen landen
Kriemhild geheizen:
Dar umbe muosen degene
ein vil édel magedîn,
niht schœners mohte sîn,
si wart ein scœne wîp.
vil verlíesén den lîp.
Der Nibelunge Nôt
• The verse form is unique in medieval
German epics – Nibelungenstrophe.
• The language of the Nibelungenlied is
Middle High German – roughly
equivalent to Chaucer’s Middle English.
• Modern Germans can read and understand
most of the text (but need training to
understand all of the subtleties).
Der Nibelunge Nôt
• The Nibelungenlied contains Christian
elements and does not retain the mythological
background of the Volsunga saga.
• The epic also contains numerous chivalrous
elements, but it is not a courtly romance!
• It is a mixture of Germanic, heathen elements
from the Völkerwanderung, and Christian,
chivalrous elements from medieval Germany.
Der Nibelunge Nôt
• The Nibelungenlied has two parts, roughly
equal in length:
1. Siegfried’s wooing of Kriemhild and
Gunther’s winning of Brunhild, culminating
in Siegfried’s murder.
2. Kriemhild’s marriage to Etzel and her
revenge, culminating in everyone’s death.
• Most of the mythological material is absent.
Der Nibelunge Nôt
• The Nibelungenlied is less focused on
historical and dynastical issues than the
Volsunga saga.
• The author is not interested in historical,
geographical, or dynastical correctness.
• The author, however, is interested in dramatic
confrontation–the characters reveal themselves
in their actions and their conflicts. It is as
much dramatic theater as epic.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 1
• The text begins with the story of the maiden
Kriemhild, who corresponds to Gudrun of
the Volsunga saga (17).
• Her brothers are the Burgundian kings
Gunther, Gernot and Giselher (who
correspond roughly to Gunnar and Guttorm).
• The fierce warrior Hagen replaces Hogni.
• They all reside in Worms on the Rhine.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 1
• The elder Burgundian king is called
Dancrat, married to Queen Uote (Gjuki
and Grimhild in the Volsunga saga).
• The knights (German: Degen) are Hagen
von Troneck, Dancwart, Ortwin, Gere,
Eckewart, and Volker – many hold the
symbolic offices of medieval courts (18).
• Kriemhild dreams of a falcon – Siegfried.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 1-2
• Kriemhild does not wish to marry “and be
made wretched by the love of any man.”
• Dreams and omens play the same role in
the Nibelungenlied as in Icelandic sagas.
• Siegfried grows up in Xanten in the
Netherlands, son of Siegmund and
Sieglind. Youthful description (20).
• Knighting ceremonies for Siegfried, a
coming-of-age ritual (21f.).
Der Nibelunge Nôt 2
• Generosity of the king and feudal fiefdoms
described as well. Note the gifts presented to
wandering minstrels!
• Minstrels (German Minnesänger) – the
unknown author of the Nibelungenlied was
possibly one of these.
• Story of cursed gold and dragon slaying
described later in the epic – less important.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 3
• Siegfried hears of Kriemhild’s beauty and
nobility and resolves to win her for his wife.
• His parents are fearful of a match with the
prideful Burgundians, but support him.
• Siegfried takes 12 select warriors on a
wooing expedition to Burgundy – obsession
with their clothes and adornments (24ff.).
• Only Hagen recognizes the strangers (27).
Der Nibelunge Nôt
Siegfried arrives in
Worms
Der Nibelunge Nôt 3
• Hagen recounts Siegfried’s earlier exploits:
how his slew the bold Nibelungs and took
their huge treasure (27f.).
• Siegfried also fought the dwarf Alberich
and won from him a “cloak of invisibility.”
• Hagen also reports that Siegfried slew a
dragon and bathed in its blood – which made
him invincible to weapons (28).
• They decide to receive him courteously.
Der Nibelunge Nôt
Siegfried
and the
Dragon
Der Nibelunge Nôt 3
• Siegfried boldly states that he has come to
“wrest from you by force all that you
possess!” (29). Open challenge to Gunther.
• Siegfried at first barbaric, becomes purified
and elevated to courtly manners through his
love for Kriemhild – medieval romance.
• Hagen and the other brothers manage to
pacify Siegfried and no battle ensues.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 3-4
• Siegfried stays in Worms for a year, but is
not allowed to see Kriemhild – though she
often watches him from her window!
• Kings Liudeger (Saxony) and Liudegast
(Denmark) threaten Burgundy with invasion.
• Gernot responds like a Germanic warrior
(34). “They alone die that are doomed.”
• Siegfried vows to help Gunther, wants to
gain glory (and maybe a bride) for himself.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 4
• Siegfried leads the Burgundians against
40,000 men – strikes out alone to spy on the
enemy and defeats King Liudegast (37f.).
• Siegfried slays 29 of Liudegast’s warriors,
takes the king prisoner.
• Battle of 1000 against 40,000 takes place –
victory to the Burgundians (38-40) because
of Siegfried’s heroics in capturing King
Liudeger.
Der Nibelunge Nôt
Der Nibelunge Nôt 4
• Kriemhild asks to see the messenger
privately – he tells of her brothers and of
brave Siegfried’s exploits (41f.)!
• Kriemhild blushes when told of Siegfried’s
heroics – not as brazen as saga women!
• The battle serves to highlight Siegfried’s
heroic stature and to establish the Gunther’s
debt to him.
• Festivities planned to celebrate and reward.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 5
• As part of the festivities, the young maidens
of the court are presented to the knights:
Kriemhild makes her appearance (47f.).
• Siegfried is presented to Kriemhild. After a
year of waiting, he finally speaks to her and
gets a ceremonial kiss (49).
• Festivities continue – the prisoners are sent
home (on Siegfried’s advice) on very
generous terms.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 6
• News comes to Burgundy of a beautiful
warrior princess living far away in Iceland –
Brunhild (cite 53).
• Suitors have to defeat her in three contests to
win her love: javelin, shot put, and long
jump! Loss of event meant loss of head!
• Gunther asks for Siegfried’s aid in winning
Brunhild – he agrees, for Kriemhild’s hand.
• Gunther agrees to the arrangement (54).
Der Nibelunge Nôt 6
• Gunther, Siegfried, Hagen, and Dancwart
prepare to travel down the Rhine on their way
to Iceland.
• More obsession with clothes and adornment.
• Siegfried vows to Kriemhild that he will aid
and protect Gunther in Iceland (58).
• Siegfried captains the boat downstream (and
beyond) to Isenstein, Brunhild’s fortress (59).
Der Nibelunge Nôt 6-7
• Siegfried tells the men to repeat this lie:
that Gunther is Lord and that Siegfried is
his vassal. This deception necessary to
impress Brunhild (59).
• Siegfried leads Gunther’s horse ashore –
signs of service rendered by a vassal.
• Description of the four newcomers (62).
• Brunhild thinks Siegfried has come for her
since she is fated to marry only the best.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 7
• Siegfried tells Brunhild that his liege lord
Gunther intends to win her love (63).
• Brunhild issues her athletic challenge –
Siegfried rushes to the boat to get his magic
cloak of invisibility to aid Gunther. He
returns secretly (unseen by anyone).
• Gunther sees the size and quality of
Brunhild’s weapons and is afraid (65).
Der Nibelunge Nôt 7
• Brunhild throws her great spear, but
invisible Siegfried blocks the shaft, hurls in
backwards at Brunhild, so as not to kill her.
It appears that Gunther won Round 1(67)!
• Brunhild throws the great stone and
outleaps her throw – Siegfried throws it
farther, then carries Gunther in his own
great leap! (67). Rounds 2 and 3 to Gunther.
• Brunhild admits defeat, gives Gunther rule.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 7-8
• Siegfried pretends not to have seen the
games – deception is complete.
• Brunhild gathers her vassals for a farewell,
though Hagen and Gunther fear ambush.
• Siegfried departs secretly to get his own
vassals, the warriors of the Nibelungs!
• He challenges the giant guarding his
treasure and defeats him (71).
Der Nibelunge Nôt
Siegfried
and the
Giant
Watchman
Der Nibelunge Nôt 8
• Siegfried then fights with his own treasurer,
the Dwarf or Kobold Alberich (71).
• Siegfried commands Alberich to bring 1000
of the best Nibelung warriors; they depart for
Iceland to support Gunther. Prestige.
• Suggestions in the text that Brunhild had an
abortive relationship with Siegfried, as in the
Volsunga saga. Awkward love triangle.
• Brunhild deceived repeatedly by Gunther.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 8-9
• Dancwart gives away Brunhild’s gold, and
she appoints a governor in Iceland.
• Gunther sends Siegfried ahead to announce
the festivities in Worms; Siegfried behaves
as a vassal again in order to win Kriemhild.
• Siegfried speaks directly to Kriemhild in a
dialogue heavy in double entendres – courtly
affection and romance (78f.).
Der Nibelunge Nôt 10
• Brunhild received in Worms with pageantry
and festivities.
• The knights joust in the bohort (half game,
half parade) and the ladies watch.
• Siegfried reminds Gunther of his promise,
and Gunther formally betroths Kriemhild to
Siegfried in ring of warriors (85f.).
• Brunhild is upset that Kriemhild appears to
be marrying much below her station (85).
Der Nibelunge Nôt 10
• Siegfried and Kriemhild enjoy each other’s
affections on their wedding night.
• King Gunther and Brunhild do not have
quite as good a time – she intends to remain
a maiden until she has learned the truth about
Siegfried! (88).
• Brunhild wrestles Gunther down, ties him
up, and hangs him on a nail on the wall (88).
Der Nibelunge Nôt 10
• Gunther confesses his marital humiliation to
Siegfried (cite 89f.).
• Siegfried vows to use his magic cloak to tame
the unruly Brunhild for Gunther.
• Gunther agrees, but cautions Siegfried not to
make love to her – though he can kill the
dreadful woman if necessary (90)!
• Siegfried wrestles Brunhild (cite 91f.)!
Der Nibelunge Nôt 10
• Brunhild is mastered – Gunther listened to
the entire fight with the unnatural Brunhild.
• Siegfried secretly takes a ring and a girdle
from Brunhild, switches places with Gunther.
• Ring and girdle (later given to Kriemhild)
signify virginity in medieval texts. In
Thidrikssaga, Siegfried deflowers Brunhild
himself! The author glosses over the act.
• Deflowered Brunhild loses her strength.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 11
• Gunther offers to share his lands with
Siegfried – he rejects the property, but
Kriemhild wants to take a noble retinue.
• Hagen of Troneck refuses to go with
Kriemhild – he identifies himself with direct
service to the Burgundian crown (96).
• Siegfried returns home triumphantly with his
Queen Kriemhild. Crowned in Xanten.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 11-12
• Siegfried and Kriemhild rule in peace and
prosperity for 10 years – she has a son whom
they name Gunther.
• Gunther and Brunhild rule in Burgundy
uneventfully – she has a son they name
Siegfried. Everybody seems to be happy.
• Brunhild, however, wonders why Siegfried
has never paid any feudal dues to his lord.
• Brunhild concerned with feudal precedence.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 12
• Brunhild has Gunther invite Siegfried and
Kriemhild to Worms.
• Feudal status is immensely important –
Brunhild is proud of her preeminent place.
• The messengers travel to Norway (?) to visit
Siegfried.
• The author’s geography is very poor. Many
places (except Rhine and Danube valleys)
seem like fantasy lands.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 12-13
• Siegfried accepts their invitation, travels
with Kriemhild, his father Siegmund, and
1000 warriors to Burgundy.
• They leave their little son at home.
• Elegant and gracious reception for Siegfried
in Worms – no hint of coming hostility.
• Brunhild initially well disposed toward
Siegfried and Kriemhild.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 14
• As the two queens watch the knightly
sports, Kriemhild praises her husband
Siegfried: “I have a husband of such merit
that he might rule over all the kingdoms of
this region” (111). She stresses his innate,
heroic qualities.
• Brunhild is confused, states that “Gunther
must take precedence over all kings” (111),
stressing social status and feudal ties.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 14
• What started as prideful boasting becomes a
fierce royal quarrel for supremacy.
• Brunhild thinks that Siegfried is a liegeman,
and thus inferior to Gunther.
• Kriemhild knows Siegfried is socially an
equal to Gunther, and incomparably superior
in all other ways (111-113).
• Duel: who shall enter the church first?
Der Nibelunge Nôt 14
• Showdown before the Munster:
• Brunhild demands they halt: “A leigewoman
may not enter before a Queen!” (113).
• As one insult deserves another, Kriemhild
replies: “How could a vassal’s paramour ever
wed a King?” (114).
• Brunhild learns of the deception, she cries
while Kriemhild enters the church, gloating.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 14
• Brunhild demands proof that Siegfried had
deflowered her.
• Kriemhild produces the ring Siegfried took
from Brunhild on the night her marriage was
consummated (114).
• As further proof, Kriemhild points to the fine
silk girdle she is wearing – “recognize this?”
• Public insult and humiliation. The Queen –
like men in the sagas – needs vengeance!
Der Nibelunge Nôt 14
• Brunhild complains to Gunther, who asks
Siegfried if he ever boasted of having slept
with Brunhild.
• Siegfried vows to swear an oath that he never
did such a thing – Gunther proclaims him
innocent (116).
• Both kings eager to keep the deception secret.
• Both kings decide to keep their queens (and
their malicious tongues) under control.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 14
• Brunhild tells Hagen von Troneck of the
insult, and he vows to get vengeance, or die
trying – “Are we to rear cuckoos?” (117).
• Gunther & Giselher try to dissuade Hagen.
• Hagen tells Gunther that he “would be lord
of many kingdoms” if Siegfried were dead.
• Weak Gunther is easily persuaded – Hagen
tells him of his plan (cite 118).
Der Nibelunge Nôt 15
• (False) envoys arrive with message of war
from old enemies Liudeger and Liudegast.
• Siegfried, as expected, offers his support.
• Hagen goes to Kriemhild, treacherously asks
how he can aid Siegfried in the battle (120f.)
• Kriemhild reveals the secret weakness of
Siegfried – the linden leaf!
• Hagen asks her to “sew a little mark on his
clothing” – Kriemhild’s aid brings his death.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 15-16
•
•
•
•
Hagen sees his mark, makes ready.
The war is called off, replaced by a Hunt.
Kriemhild has an ill-omened dream (124).
Guileless Siegfried goes on a bizarre
hunting expedition, boars, lions, bison,
moose, and other German beasts? (126).
• Siegfried catches a bear for camp
entertainment. Comic relief before tragedy.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 16
• No wine is available – Hagen had it sent
elsewhere, so everyone is thirsty.
• Hagen suggests drinking at a cool spring
nearby – he further suggests a race (130).
• Thirsty, unsuspecting Siegfried races through
the forest toward his doom.
• Hagen hides Siegfried's weapons, waits until
he is lying down drinking, then hurls his
spear at the mark – Siegfried’s death (130f.).
Hagen spears
Siegfried while
he drinks from
the cool spring.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 16-17
• Siegfried dies among the flowers (cite 131).
• Gunther laments the deed, but fierce Hagen
rejoices that he has “put an end to his
supremacy” (132).
• Hagen lays Siegfried’s body at Kriemhild’s
doorstep in the night–gruesome discovery, but
she suspected Hagen’s treachery (133).
• Uproar in the castle over Siegfried’s murder.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 17
• King Siegmund and the Nibelung warriors
want to avenge his death, but Kriemhild
cautions them not to attack foolishly.
• Kriemhild vows vengeance of her own.
• At Hagen’s presence, the wound begins to
bleed anew – a sign that he is guilty! (137)
• Kriemhild and Nibelungs keep vigil 3 days
beside the coffin. Extraordinary mourning.
Der Nibelunge Nôt 18
• After the burial, King Siegmund wants to
take Kriemhild back to the Netherlands.
• Her mother and brother Giselher want her to
stay with them in Worms where her entire
family lives – eventually Kriemhild agrees.
• She commends her little son to Siegmund’s
care, and he rides home in sorrow.
• “Brunhild sat enthroned in her pride” (144).
Der Nibelunge Nôt
• The first half of the epic concludes with
Siegfried’s burial.
• The joyful heroic tale of the dragon slayer is
over; the epic now moves toward vengeance,
doom and death .
• Kriemhild emerges from her mourning as a
vicious, vengeance-obsessed witch.
• Hagen reveals himself as a great Germanic
warrior bravely facing his doom.
Discussion of the
Nibelungenlied continues
on the following
Power Point Presentation
(Nibelungen 2).