The Death of Siegfried

 Song of the Nibelungs

 This means “the story of the Nibelung
kings”
 One of the major epics of Germany
 Is ruled by ethos of vassalage, a warrior’s
code of loyalty in feudal society
 This poem depicted the theme of duty and
chivalry. Siegfried represents the chivalric
code. He courts Kriemhild properly and
marries her.
 Is ruled by ethos of vassalage, a warrior’s code
of loyalty in feudal society
 The prisoners of war are treated less like
prisoners and more like guests, as was the
code of the time.
 Kriemhild has a duty to pay to Siegfried,
believing she must avenge his death
because he was her husband and it is her
job.
 Her brothers have a duty to their sister and
are bound by this duty to help her.
 Rudiger is put into conflict because of his
conflicting duties to Etzel and the
Burgundians.
 The feudal significance is closely tied to
these plot and character elements. Feudal
traditions and laws valued strength and
bravery. Although the chivalric code
emphasized many points of moral behavior,
a heroic person with questionable ethics
was still highly valued.
 Consider Hagen in the story, who is
respected for this strength even though he
is a murderer.
 One strong belief of this culture, as well as
many cultures of Europe during this time
period, was that of CHIVALRY.
 This CODE of the knights had to do with a
moral, social, and religious way of
behaving. The knights believed in
behaving honorably, being honest and
straightforward, and always treating women
with respect.
 Courtly, or knightly love, was part of
chivalry.
 Courtly, or knightly love, was part of
chivalry. This was a love a knight would
have for a noblewoman, causing the knight
to perform acts of courage in her honor,
while never hoping to consummate the
love.
 As part of the chivalric code, appearances
and CLOTHING WERE VERY IMPORTANT to
these people as well. They believed that to
show respect of themselves and for their
country, dress and appearance should be at
the utmost, and cleanliness was vitally
important.
 As a result of this belief, the people of the
culture would be apt to judge others
appearance – an unfortunate consequence.
 Vanquish
 Vassal
 Kinsfolk
 Kinsmen
 Homage
 To overcome in battle
 To defeat in a conflict
 To master over (an emotion,
passion, or temptation)
 A person under the protection of a
feudal lord to whom he has vowed
homage and fealty
 One in subservient or subordinate
position
 Relatives
 A feudal ceremony by which a man
acknowledges himself the vassal of a
lord
 The relationship between a feudal
lord and his vassal
 An act done or payment made in
meeting the obligations of vassalage
 A feudal ceremony by which a man
acknowledges himself the vassal of a
lord
 The relationship between a feudal
lord and his vassal
 An act done or payment made in
meeting the obligations of vassalage
 Siegfried of Netherland
 Kriemhild of Burgundy
 Gunther of Burgundy
 Brunhild of Isenland
 Hagen of Trony
 Prince of Xanten, son of King Siegmund of Xanten,
heir of Netherlands
 Masters the art of forging a sword at the shop of Mime
 Instructed by the birds to bathe himself in the
dragon’s blood and became invulnerable
 Got the cloak of invisibility and transformation from
Alberich, the King of the Dwarves
 Assists King Gunther in his pursuit of the Queen
Brunhild’s hand in marriage and is ultimately taken
out by Hagen.
 Princess of Burgundy, wife of Siegfried
 Revenge is taken against Hagen using the
sword Hagen, Balmung, but ultimately dies
at the hand of Hildebrand.
 Revealed the vulnerable part of Siefried to
Hagen by marking his vest with a cross
mark.
 Together with King Gernot, Giselher and
their sister, Kriemhild live at the court in
Worms, which is the capital of the
Kingdom of Burgundy
 Wins the hand of Brunhild with assistance
from Siegfried.
 Before too long, however, he bears some
responsibility for the death of Siegfried
and is ordered to be killed by Kriemhild.
 Queen of Isenland
 The secret to her strength is in her
girdle and ring
 Lord of Trony, brother of Dancwart, son of
Aldrian and chief vassal of the kings of
Burgundy.
 He deceived Kriemhild to know the
vulnerable spot of Siegfried.
 He is also held hostage at Etzel’s court, is
responsible for the death of Siegfried and
becomes target of a revenge plot by
Kriemhild.
 King of the Huns.
 Perhaps better known by another,
more familiar name: Attila
 King of Dwarves
 A dwarf who become the former owner of the
cloak of invisibility after a run-in with
Siegfried.
 Offers the cloak of invisibility and
transformation of he spares his life and even
offers to make him “the richest king on earth”
 Former owner of sword Balmung
 He and his dwarves turned turn to stone.
 Siegfried hears the
surpassing beauty and many
virtues of Kriemhild and
embarks for Burgundy to win
her for his bride.
 Gunther agrees to give
Kriemhild in marriage to
Siegfried but makes in a
condition that Siegfried help
him win Brunhild, the Queen
of Isenland.
 Queen Brunhild recognizes
Siegfried and admires him for his
reputed strength and courage and
his great wealth that he had
obtained when he killed a dragon
and bathed in its blood to render
himself invulnerable to physical
weapons.
 The trial begins and Gunther
wins only because Siegfried,
putting his cloak of
Invisibility, performs all the
actions for him.
 Brunhild senses that the man
entering her chamber is not her true
husband. In her indignation, she ties
him and hangs him up on a nail at
the wall. Siegfried helps once again,
taking her girdle away from her.
 The conflict seems resolved.
Siegfried and Kriemhild set off
for Xanten.
 Years later, Brunhild presses
them to return for a visit,
wondering why Gunther’s vassal
hasn’t been at the court for such a
long time to serve his master.
 Brunhild complains to her husband
that Siegfried does not come to
Burgundy to pay homage to Gunther.
 The Burgundians decide to hold a
great feast.
 Siegfried and Kriemhild are invited.
 When Brunhild boasts that Siegfried
is a mere vassal of Gunther’s,
Kriemhild tells her the truth and
carried off by pride and passion,
produces the girdle and the ring that
Siegfried took from Brunhild.
 Brunhild vows vengeance, and
with Hagen, the faithful vassal of
Gunther, she plans to kill
Siegfried.
 Before Siegfried set out, he tried
to comfort his wife, who did
want him to go with their
relatives
 “Go not hunting. Last night I had
dreamed an evil dream, that two wild
boars chased you over the heath,
and the flowers were red with blood.
Have pity on my tears, for I fear
some treachery. There might be
someone who hates us. Go not, my
dear lord: in good faith I counsel it.”
 “Dear love, I go only for a few
days. I do not know anyone who
bears me hate. Thy kinsmen are
good, and I have deserved no evil
at their hand.”
 “Nay, Siegfried, for I fear some
misfortune. Last night I dreamed
an evil dream: how that two
mountains fell on you and I saw
you no more. If you go, you will
grieve me bitterly.”
 The men rode into a deep forest
to seek sport.
 They bade the sportsmen to the
table, and they sat down, a
goodly company on a fair
meadow.
 Then said Sir Siegfried, “I marvel,
since they bring us so much from the
kitchen, that they bring not the wine.
If good hunters be treated so, I will
hunt no more. Certainly, I have
deserved better at your hands.
 His good spear he leaned against
the lime tree; then the noble
guest stood and waited, for his
courtesy was great. He laid down
his shield by the stream.
 The stream was cool, pure, and
good.
 Hagen carried his bow and his
sword out of his reach and sprang
back nd gripped the spear.
 While Sigfried drank from the
stream, Hagen stabbed him
where the cross was, and his
heart’s blood spurted out on the
traitor’s clothes.
 She is concerned for Siegfried
because
1. She has revealed his secret weakness
2. She had a bad dream which made her
afraid that something bad will
happen to her husband
 Man vs. Man
 Siegfried and Gunther vs.
Brunhild
 Siegfried vs. Hagen
 Kriemhild vs. Brunhild
 Research about Charlemagne
 Find out who he was
 When he lived
 Where he came from
 What he was famous for
 Prepare a one-page(at the back of the one whole) timeline
of the most significant events of his life
 Check whether the main character Count Roland,
described in the “Song of Roland” as Charlemagne’s
nephew and favorite knight, is a historical of fictional
person.