Nibelungenlied

Fiction | Novel/Book in Verse | Adult | Published in 1200

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-10

Chapters 11-14

Chapters 15-19

Chapters 20-22

Chapters 23-27

Chapters 28-32

Chapters 33-36

Chapters 37-39

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

Gifts

Gifts are a reoccurring motif throughout The Nibelungenlied, the giving of gifts being shown to have many advantages. For the most part, the epic’s royals and nobles are primarily driven to hand out gifts (usually clothes or gold) since largesse is considered one of the key values in chivalry. To give gifts to a messenger, visitor, or guest is to exhibit good character in a medieval context. Rüdiger gives the Burgundians many things, including his own daughter, out of hospitality and genuine respect for those whom he recognizes as his betters. In doing so, he proves himself chivalrous (at least until he must battle the Burgundians for Etzel’s sake).

In addition to proving oneself to be chivalric, a noble can endear him or herself to subjects by giving out expensive presents since, as Rüdiger tells Gotelind, “when knights ride in sumptuous style they go in good heart” (152). Kriemhild likely earns “many marks of loyal submission” from the people of Hungary because she decides to “[give] away all that she had brought over the Rhine” (175). Later, she uses promises of castles, land, and gold to goad Etzel’s men into attacking the Burgundians.

Gifts also serve as signs of excess and power. The poet states that Siegfried “possessed the greatest treasure ever won” (98) and does not refrain from “[bestowing] so many gifts on the envoys that their mounts could not carry it all home” (103). Siegfried goes to extremes not so much to be chivalric like Rüdiger but to prove his abundance since he wishes to come across as someone that has “all the glory that a man can wish for” (99).

Siegfried’s Cloak of Invisibility

Siegfried’s cloak of invisibility embodies his anonymous power in certain situations. The cloak of invisibility renders Siegfried “invisible to all” (63) and gives him the strength of 12 men. He uses the cloak to perform secret tasks for Gunther such as beating Brunhild in her games and subduing her in the bedroom. Siegfried must perform these tasks because Gunther lacks the power to do so himself. The prince does not want Brunhild to realize he is more formidable than Gunther, so he takes on an air of anonymity by pretending to be a vassal (a less visible rank than that of king) and wearing the cloak of invisibility.

Brunhild’s Girdle

“The girdle of stout silk cord that [Brunhild] wore about her waist” (88) symbolizes chastity. The concept of a girdle symbolizing chastity is found throughout medieval European literature, likely due to the connection between St. Thomas’s Belt and the Virgin Mary. (It is possible that the poet includes this trope because it would be familiar to a medieval audience.) Brunhild’s girdle wraps her clothes tightly to her body and makes it harder for Gunther to “[lavish] caresses and endearment” (87). Thus, it acts as a deterrent that preserves her chastity. Brunhild also weaponizes her girdle by binding Gunther with it to prevent his advances—another form of determent from defloration.

The connection between Brunhild’s girdle and her virginity or “maidenhead” (113) is further supported by Siegfried stealing it after his metaphorical sexual assault. Furthermore, Kriemhild explicitly uses the bridle as proof that “Siegfried was the first to enjoy [Brunhild’s] lovely body” (113).

One could argue that Brunhild’s strength is derived from her virginity since Siegfried’s theft and her intercourse with Gunther lead to “her vast strength [fleeing] so that now she was no longer stronger than any other woman” (93). The concept of a woman possessing remarkable physical strength through chastity complicates that of the ideal medieval Germanic woman since the medieval Germanic patriarchy idealizes chastity while frowning on female physicality. This complication plays into the epic’s theme of deviation from medieval Germanic womanhood.