introduction The story tells of dragon-slayer Siegfried at the court

of the Burgundians, how he was murdered, and of his wife Kriemhild's revenge.

The Nibelungenlied is based on pre-Christian Germanic heroic motifs (the "Nibelungensaga"), which include oral traditions and reports based on historic events and individuals of the 5th and 6th centuries. Old Norse parallels of the legend survive in the Völsunga saga, the Prose Edda, the Poetic Edda, the Legend of Norna-Gest, and the Þiðrekssaga.

Historical background A historical nucleus of the saga lies in

events of the Germanic Migration Period, in particular the defeat of the Burgundians by Flavius Aëtius with the aid of Hunnic mercenaries near Worms in ca. AD 436. Other possible influences are the feud between the 6th century Merovingian queens Brunhilda and Fredegunde, as well as the marriage of Attila with the Burgundian princess Ildikó in AD 453, the very last of his wives just before he died, the day after the marriage

From the evidence of Waltharius, Nibelung is a part of the name for Franks, although there are other uses of the name in other medieval texts. The Nibelungenlied combines a first part dealing with Gunther's wooing of Brünhild and the Murder of Siegfried which takes place in Worms, with a second part, describing the journey of the Nibelungs east across the Danube to Etzelburg, the residence of Attila the Hun (Etzel), the location of the final catastrophe.

The Nibelungenlied arranges these traditional materials in a composition aiming at a High Medieval audience casting the inherited Germanic theme in a critical view of contemporary chivalry. Consequently, Siegfried changes from a dragon killer to a courtly man who will express his love to Kriemhild explicitly only after he has won the friendship of the Burgundian king Gunther and his brothers, Gernot and Giselher. Some situations, which exaggerate the conflict between the Germanic migrations and the chivalrous ethics (such as Gunther's embarrassing wedding night with Brünhild) may be interpreted as irony. The notoriously bloody end that leaves no hope for reconciliation is far removed from the happy ending of typical courtly epics, but is probably part of the original story. The bloody conclusion is also part of the overall critical dimension of the work.

Background of Nibelugenlied German epic written In circa1200 AD Nibelungenlied means Song of the “Nibelungs” Was based on a Traditional oral story Before being written

Features and Characteristics The story is more on fiction with a twist

of love story that would end in a tragic death and vengeance to once love.

Prevailing scholarly theories strongly suggest that the written Nibelungenlied is the work of an anonymous poet from the area of the Danube between Passau and Vienna, dating from about 1180 to 1210, possibly at the court of Wolfger von Erla, the bishop of Passau (in office 1191–1204). Most scholars consider it likely that the author was a man of literary and ecclesiastical education at the bishop's court, and that the poem's recipients were the clerics and noblemen at the same court.

Unfamiliar words 1. Kriemhild has a surpassing beauty, that made Sigfried fall for

her. 2. Suitors that will not vanquish would suffer a cruel death. 3. Brunhild despises gunther and his men. 4.Because they seem inferior in wealth to her other suitors. 5. Siegfried tells the queen that he is a vassal to gunther to raise

gunther’s status. 6. In bruinhild’s indigation, she ties gunther up in her girdle and

hangs him on hail. 7. Hagen thrusts a spear into siegfried’s vulnerable spot. 8. His quiver was richly laced and covered by a panther’s hide for

the sake of the sweet smell. 9.He sprang up maddened from the water, for the long boar spear

stuck out from his heart. 10. He smote so mightily that the shield well-nigh broke.

irritated tremble pushannoyancehate outstandings conquer lower in statusservant strike

Characters: Alberich - the dwarf who was the Lord

Treasurer of the Nibelung dynasty Aldrian - Hagen’s father Siegfried - hero of the Nibelungenlied Kriemhild - heroine of the

Nibelungenlied, sister of Gunther Gunther - king of Burgundy Brunhild - queen of Isenland Hagen - faithful vassal of Gunther

Etzel (Attila) - king of the Huns, second husband of Kriemhild

Setting Setting starts in the middle agesmost of

the story takes places in Worms, a picturesque city in burgundly located on rhine.

Continuation of the Summary A double wedding is performed. But

Brunhild senses that the man entering her bedchamber is not her true husband. She ties him and hangs him up at the wall. Siegfried helps once again, taking her girdle awayfrom her. The conflict seems resolved. Siegfried and Kriemhild set off for Xanten.

Gunther's wedding night

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. Shortly after their arrival, the furious quarrel breaks out between the ladies, which peaks in front of the Cathedral. When Brunhild, being the King's wife, claims to enter the church in front of the vassal's spouse, Kriemhild reveals that it was Siegfried who defeated her and shows her the girdle to show proof.

Dismayed by Brunhild's grief, Hagen decides to avenge the humiliation of his king's wife. He fakes a war and talks guileless Kriemhild into sewing on Siegfried's coat a patch marking the only spot where the hero remained vulnerable, since a linden leaf stuck there when he was bathing in the dragon's blood.

"Siegfried's Departure"

The so-called war quickly turns into a hunting contest in the nearby Odenwald forest. When Siegfried bends to sip the water of a fountain, Hagen kills him from behind with his spear. The next day Kriemhild finds the corpse in front of her chamber. When Hagen later passes the bier in the Cathedral, the wounds of the dead body open up again, and Kriemhild recognises the murderer.

"Siegfried's Death"

The desperate widow swears to herself to take the Treasure and find new friends and avengers. To avert this, Hagen steals the Treasure and throws it into the Rhine.

Kriemhild stays mourning for many years until Rudeger of Bechelaren pays a visit to Worms and asks for her hand on behalf of Etzel, king of the Huns. She goes to the land of the Huns and becomes Etzel's wife. Years later, she invites her brothers and their followers to Hungary.

Although Hagen warns them not to go, the Burgundians, whom the poet from now on calls Nibelungs, set off. While they are crossing the Danube, three wise water nymphs tell him that none of the Burgundians but the chaplain will survive the travel. To see for himself whether it is true, Hagen throws the chaplain into the Danube, but with God's help the chaplain manages to swim to the other side. After a pleasant stay in Bechelaren, the Nibelungs arrive at Etzel's castle. Kriemhild gives them a cool welcome, and it is obvious that she still thinks of revenge.

Hagen and Folker can frustrate her first plans, but eventually a brutal massacre takes its course, only sparing Gunther and Hagen on the Burgundian side. To make Hagen tell her the place where he lowered the Treasure, Kriemhild has her brother Gunther beheaded.

Kriemhild showing Gunther's head to Hagen

Theme/ underlying message Insecurity and jealousness could lead to

death of someone if we can’t control our emotion.

reflection “The best revenge is moving on and getting over it.

Don’t give someone the satisfaction of watching you suffer.”

We often hurt people in diff. ways and yet we try to make our simple problems more complicated to be solved. Instead of carrying hatred inside our hearts why won’t we reconcile to our enemies let’s be humble and accept the fact that we can never bring back the dead. Do not put bloods in your hands to get revenge just leave it to God’s Wrath.

“An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

Rules erasures means wrong used only black ball pens and bring out ½ length wise paper. Any violations of the said rules would be deducted 5 points for the quiz!!!

“ Your paper resembles/ reflect who you are.” so think twice before you write your answer.

Identification1. who is the hero of the epic?2. Who is Haygens father?3. Author of the epic?4.Faithful servant of Gunther?5.Queen of Isenland?

Jumble words6.mhldieirk7.tunhgre8.tzele9.rdgaon laseyr10.erptuared

true/ false

11.The Nibelungenlied is based on pre-Christian Germanic heroic motifs (the "Nibelungensaga"),

12. German epic written In circa1200 AD 13. Kriemhild has her brother Gunther

beheaded. 14. A double wedding is performed in

the poem. 15. The story takes places in Worms, a

picturesque city in burgundly located on rhine.

identification16.Who planned to kill Siegfried?17.give the exact weak spot of

Siegfried?

18-20Make your own quotation about the epic

key Answers reminder other answers is not accepted 1.Siegfried 11-13 true 2.aldrian 14 False 3 anonymous or blank 15 true 4 hagen 16 Brunhild 5brunhild 17 left shoulder 6kriemhild for 18-20 any quotation

with 7Gunther a sense about the topic 8 etzel 3 points and the rest give 1 9 dragon slayer point for the effort if 10 Departure they write anything.

Thanks for listening hope you like our report.

“Sayonara” (good bye)