The document provides background information on the German epic poem "Nibelungenlied". It discusses the poem's origins in oral traditions dating back to the 5th century, as well as historical events that influenced the story, such as the defeat of the Burgundians. The poem was written around 1200 AD and tells the story of the dragon-slayer Siegfried, his marriage to Kriemhild, and her revenge after his murder. It combines these traditional Germanic heroic motifs with the ideals of medieval knighthood. The summary concludes with a brief synopsis of the main plot points in the poem.

2. 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.

3. 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

4.  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.

5.  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.

6. 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

7. 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.

8.  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.

9. 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 push annoyance
hate outstandings conquerlower in status
servant strike

10.  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


11. Setting
 Setting starts in the middle agesmost of the
story takes places in Worms, a picturesque
city in burgundly located on rhine.

12. 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.

13. Gunther's wedding night

14.  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.

15.  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.

16. "Siegfried's Departure"

17.  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.

18. "Siegfried's Death"

19.  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.

20.  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.

21.  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.

22. Kriemhild showing Gunther's
head to Hagen

23. Theme/ underlying message
 Insecurity and jealousness could lead to
death of someone if we can’t control our
emotion.

24. 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

25. 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.

26. Identification
1. 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?

27. Jumble words
6.mhldieirk
7.tunhgre
8.tzele
9.rdgaon laseyr
10.erptuared

28. 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.

29. identification
16.Who planned to kill Siegfried?
17.give the exact weak spot of
Siegfried?

30. 18-20Make your own quotation
about the epic

31. 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.

34. Thanks for listening hope
you like our report.
“Sayonara” (good bye)