The Development of the Nibelungen-Legend in Various Periods of German Literature

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Development of the Nibelungen-Legend in Various Periods of German Literature The Development of the Nibelungen-legend in Various Periods of German Literature br Nadine L Herman Submitted in partial fulfiiîment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia September 1999 O Copyright by Nadine L Herman, 1999 National Library Bibliothèque nationale I*I of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, me Wellington Ottaw ON KfA ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant a la National Lhrary of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriéte du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis.nor substantial exûacts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. ABSTRACT Tne development of the Nibelungen-myth throughout German literature shows a pattern of unbroken storytelling, the substance of which began even before the advent of the written word and continues stili in our time. The following work examines these issues throughout various periods and in diverse genres of Geman literature. The ongins of the myth are first addressed in a discussion of the ultimate connection between history, legend, and rnyth. This looks specifically at the content of the fint written versions of the tale, the Poetic Edda and the V6~sungensaga.The medieval version of the story, the Nibehngenlied poem, is then examined. This focuses on the specific changes that occurred as the myth was taken nom its mythological heathen setting and placed into Christian courtly context. The third topic covered is the baroque Eine wrtnderschone Historie von dern gehornten Siegfried. As with the rnedieval version, this discussion examines the selective process by which the author constmcted his story, removing many of the mythical elements in exchange for a farce-Iike tale. Richard Wagner's Ring des Nibelungen is the final variation of the myth discussed. The changes that Wagner made in his own version are exarnined, as well as his restoration of the essence of the original version of the myth and its elevation into the operatic form, referred by Wagner as the ultimate of arts. Concluding remarks will support that the endurance of the story itself lends credence to its claim as a 'national literature', the product of a nation which reflects its own character and ideals. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Development and Characteristics of Oral Literature................................................. 4 1.2 Problems Faced in the Transition fiom Oral to Written Literature .......................... 13 1.3 The Partnership of Mythology and History ................................................... 18 1.4 The Earliest Written Versions of the Nibelungen-Myth........................................ 24 2 . ASPECTSOF THE MEDIEVAL NIBU WGE~~WW............................................................ -30 2.1 Medievai Gennany and the Written Word .......................................................... 31 2.2 The Poem as a Product of Oral Literature.............................................................. 34 2.3 Stmcturing of the Historical and Mythological Sources......................................... -41 2.4 Love, Loyalty and Honor: Whose Tragedy is it? ..................................................... 46 3 . A COMPARATIVELOOK AT THE VOLKSBUCH'EN WUNDERSCHONE HISTORE VON DEM GEH~RNTENSIEGFRIED '...................................... ,. .................................................... 55 3 .1 The Volksbuch ...................................................................................................... S5 3.2 The Selective Process and Style ............................................................................. -62 3.3 The Role of the Hero ............................................................................................. -75 4 . COMPOS~ONAND ASPECTSOF WAGNER'SRNG DES ~K~ELWGEN,........... .. ............... -82 4.1 Nneteenth-Century Germany................................................................................. -82 4.2 The Structure of Sources. .... .................. ................................................................ -92 4.3 Wagner's Treatxnent of Spbols and Themes.......................................................... 95 4.4 The Role of the Heroic Figures............................................................................. 106 CONCLUSION..................................... ..,,.,... ....................................................... 1 11 BIBLIOGRAPHY.......... ,.., ...~................................................................................1 12 Acknowledgments For ali those who encouraged and tolerated my pursuits - especially my family and closest friends - 1 would like to give heartfelt thanks. The same must dso go to those important people met in tmve1s abroad, as well as the many people I have had the plmaure of meeting over the last two years through the program. 1 would also like to express my gratitude to the Gexman Department of Daihousie University as a whole, for without their guidance, these past years wodd have been much more dicuit and far less rewarding. A special thanks to Dr. Jane Cumin for supe~singthis thesis and allowing me to focus on an area that 1 found quite rewarding, as well as to Dr. Friedrich Gaede and Dr. Hans-Gunther Schwarz for their insightful comrnents during the course of my time with the Department. INTRODUCTION The development of the Nibelungen-myth throughout German literature shows a pattern of unbroken storytelling, the substance of which began even before the advent of the Witten word and continues still in our tirne. The endurance of the story itself lends credence to its claim as a 'national literature', the product of a nation which reflects its own character and ideals. The aim of this thesis will be to explore the use of the myth in various periods of German literature, as weU as its representation in various genres; the medieval heroic poem, the baroque Volksbuch, and opera of the late Romantic penod. By tracing its development, this work will aim to provide a clear look at the pathway taken by the Nibelungen-myth throughout the various works discussed. The first chapter of this thesis wiii examine the origins ofthe myth itself, and its place within the tradition of oral storytelling. Some general comrnents on oral iiterature will be made, as well as a look at same of the problerns fàced when a story is transfomed fiom oral to written foms. The partnership of history, legend and myth will be discussed in relation to how they merged to form the basis of the first written versions, the Poetic Edda and the VdLNngenuiga. A brief look will then be taken of these versions in order to illustrate the nature of the miiest recordeci accounts of the Nibelungen-myth. Various aspects ofthe medievalNibeIungeniiedwiU then be examineci. This discussion I will aim primarily to show the many changes which took place as the substance of the myth was taken from its mythological heathen setting and placed into a Christian courtly context. Aspects of the poem as a work originating in the tradition of oral literature will be investigated, as well as the further influence of history upon the mythological matter. The second chapter will then conclude with a look at the role of the main characters, and wiil aim to answer the often-posed question, 'whose tragedy it is'? The third chapter of this thesis will take a comparative look at the Volksbuch-version of the myth. The end of the sixteenth century marks the emergence of this genre, and with it a renewed interest in the Nibelungen-substance. Eine wunderschüne Historie von dem gehdmten Siegfried, wwhose author rernains anonymous, stands as a testament to its era. Unfortunately, it also illustrates a deche in the heroic ideais of the original myth. The selective process and style of the author will be examuieci, as will the role of the hero. This discussion will aim to understand how the author has greatly aitered not only the events of the tale, but also the traditional roles of the characters. The discovery of the manuscript of the medieval poem at the end of the eighteenth- century marks a revival in interest in the Nibelungen-myth.Praised by its critics, the substance ofthe cuurtiy poem was raised to the status of a national epic. Chapter four of this work will discuss Richard Wagner's treatment of the myth in his opera, Ring des Nibelungen. Social and literary conditions of his tirne will be discussed by examining various ietters written by Waguer to fiends and fbdyduring the composition of the opera's poem. His stnicîuring of sources will also be reviewed, as will his use of symbols and themes. The role of the heroic figures will also be examined. These points of discussion will aim to show how Wagner returned to the earliest versions
Recommended publications
  • Old Norse Mythology — Comparative Perspectives Old Norse Mythology— Comparative Perspectives
    Publications of the Milman Parry Collection of Oral Literature No. 3 OLd NOrse MythOLOgy — COMParative PersPeCtives OLd NOrse MythOLOgy— COMParative PersPeCtives edited by Pernille hermann, stephen a. Mitchell, and Jens Peter schjødt with amber J. rose Published by THE MILMAN PARRY COLLECTION OF ORAL LITERATURE Harvard University Distributed by HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS Cambridge, Massachusetts & London, England 2017 Old Norse Mythology—Comparative Perspectives Published by The Milman Parry Collection of Oral Literature, Harvard University Distributed by Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts & London, England Copyright © 2017 The Milman Parry Collection of Oral Literature All rights reserved The Ilex Foundation (ilexfoundation.org) and the Center for Hellenic Studies (chs.harvard.edu) provided generous fnancial and production support for the publication of this book. Editorial Team of the Milman Parry Collection Managing Editors: Stephen Mitchell and Gregory Nagy Executive Editors: Casey Dué and David Elmer Production Team of the Center for Hellenic Studies Production Manager for Publications: Jill Curry Robbins Web Producer: Noel Spencer Cover Design: Joni Godlove Production: Kristin Murphy Romano Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Hermann, Pernille, editor. Title: Old Norse mythology--comparative perspectives / edited by Pernille Hermann, Stephen A. Mitchell, Jens Peter Schjødt, with Amber J. Rose. Description: Cambridge, MA : Milman Parry Collection of Oral Literature, 2017. | Series: Publications of the Milman Parry collection of oral literature ; no. 3 | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifers: LCCN 2017030125 | ISBN 9780674975699 (alk. paper) Subjects: LCSH: Mythology, Norse. | Scandinavia--Religion--History. Classifcation: LCC BL860 .O55 2017 | DDC 293/.13--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017030125 Table of Contents Series Foreword ...................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Das Nibelungenlied Als Projektionsfläche Für Die Gegenwart
    Das Nibelungenlied als Projektionsfläche für die Gegenwart Das Beispiel von Moritz RinkesDie Nibelungen und János TéreysA Nibelung-lakópark Dissertation Wissenschaftlicher Betreuer: Prof. Dr. Árpád Bemáth Vorgelegt von: Enikő Dácz Universität Szeged 2009 I Vorwort Dass die Arbeit in vorliegender Form entstehen konnte, ist der vielfachen Unterstützung, die der Verfasserin erhielt, zu verdanken. An erster Stelle danke ich Herrn Prof. Dr. Franz-Josef Holznagel vom Institut für Germanistik der Universität Rostock, der mir von Anfang an zur Seite stand und mit seinen wertvollen Anregungen und stetiger Unterstützung wesentlich zum Gelingen der Arbeit beitrug. Für den institutionellen Rahmen danke ich dem Germanistiklehrstuhl in Szeged und Prof. Dr. Árpád Bernáth, sie gaben mir die Möglichkeit, durch Diskussionen Erfahrungen für meine Arbeit zu sammeln. Für die mehrfache und zeitaufwendige Korrektur möchte ich besonders Dr. Helen Oplatka und Margit Dirnberger danken. Dr. Helen Oplatka und Prof. Dr. Andreas Oplatka danke ich auch für ihre Unterstützung und die stets ermunternden Gespräche. Ebenso fühle ich mich vielen Fachleuten verpflichtet, die mich während meinen Aufenthalten in Deutschland und Österreich mit fachlichem Rat unterstützt haben. Dank geht an Prof. Dr. Manfred Kern, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Müller, Prof. Dr. Claudia Brinker- von der Heyde und Dr. Siegrid Schmidt. Ein weiterer Dank geht an Dr. László Jónácsik, dessen Bemerkungen zur Dissertation bei den Korrekturen wichtig waren. Dass ich das Promotionsstudium anfangen konnte, verdanke ich u.a. Dr. habil. Stefan Trappen und Dr. Tünde Katona, die mich unterstützt haben. Ohne das Ungarische Staatliche Stipendium bzw. die Stipendien vom ÖAD, DAAD, vom Land Baden-Württemberg und der schweizerisch-ungarischen Stipendienstiftung an der Andrássy Gyula Deutschsprachige Universität Budapest hätte die Arbeit ebenso nicht entstehen können.
    [Show full text]
  • Stevenson Memorial Tournament 2018 Edited by ​Jordan
    Stevenson Memorial Tournament 2018 Edited by Jordan Brownstein, Ewan MacAulay, Kai Smith, and Anderson Wang ​ Written by Olivia Lamberti, Young Fenimore Lee, Govind Prabhakar, JinAh Kim, Deepak Moparthi, Arjun ​ Nageswaran, Ashwin Ramaswami, Charles Hang, Jacob O’Rourke, Ali Saeed, Melanie Wang, and Shamsheer Rana With many thanks to Brad Fischer, Ophir Lifshitz, Eric Mukherjee, and various playtesters ​ Packet 2 Tossups: 1. An algorithm devised by this person uses Need, Allocated, and Available arrays to keep the system in a safe ​ state when allocating resources. This scientist, Hoare, and Dahl authored the book Structured Programming, ​ ​ which promotes a paradigm that this man also discussed in a handwritten manuscript that popularized the phrase “considered harmful.” Like Prim’s algorithm, an algorithm by this person can achieve the optimal runtime of big-O of E plus V-log-V using a (*) Fibonacci heap. This man expanded on Dekker’s algorithm to ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ propose a solution to the mutual exclusion problem using semaphores. The A-star algorithm uses heuristics to improve on an algorithm named for this person, which can fail with negative-weight edges. For 10 points, what computer scientist’s namesake algorithm is used to find the shortest path in a graph? ANSWER: Edsger Wybe Dijkstra [“DIKE-struh”] ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ <DM Computer Science> 2. A design from this city consists of a window with a main panel and two narrow double-hung windows on ​ both sides. The DeWitt-Chestnut Building in this city introduced the framed tube structure created by an architect best known for working in this city. Though not in Connecticut, a pair of apartment buildings in this city have façades with grids of steel and glass curtain walls and are called the “Glass House” buildings.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 the Legendary Saga of the Volsungs Cecelia Lefurgy Viking Art and Literature October 4, 2007 Professor Tinkler and Professor E
    1 The Legendary Saga of the Volsungs Cecelia Lefurgy Viking Art and Literature October 4, 2007 Professor Tinkler and Professor Erussard Stories that are passed down through oral and written traditions are created by societies to give meaning to, and reinforce the beliefs, rules and habits of a particular culture. For Germanic culture, The Saga of the Volsungs reflected the societal traditions of the people, as well as their attention to mythology. In the Saga, Sigurd of the Volsung 2 bloodline becomes a respected and heroic figure through the trials and adventures of his life. While many of his encounters are fantastic, they are also deeply rooted in the values and belief structures of the Germanic people. Tacitus, a Roman, gives his account of the actions and traditions of early Germanic peoples in Germania. His narration remarks upon the importance of the blood line, the roles of women and also the ways in which Germans viewed death. In Snorri Sturluson’s The Prose Edda, a compilation of Norse mythology, Snorri Sturluson touches on these subjects and includes the perception of fate, as well as the role of shape changing. Each of these themes presented in Germania and The Prose Edda aid in the formation of the legendary saga, The Saga of the Volsungs. Lineage is a meaningful part of the Germanic culture. It provides a sense of identity, as it is believed that qualities and characteristics are passed down through generations. In the Volsung bloodline, each member is capable of, and expected to achieve greatness. As Sigmund, Sigurd’s father, lay wounded on the battlefield, his wife asked if she should attend to his injuries so that he may avenge her father.
    [Show full text]
  • Assenet Inlays Cycle Ring Wagner OE
    OE Wagner Ring Cycle Booklet 10-8-7:Layout 2 13/8/07 11:07 Page 1 An Introduction to... OPERAEXPLAINED WAGNER The Ring of the Nibelung Written and read by Stephen Johnson 2 CDs 8.558184–85 OE Wagner Ring Cycle Booklet 10-8-7:Layout 2 13/8/07 11:07 Page 2 An Introduction to... WAGNER The Ring of the Nibelung Written and read by Stephen Johnson CD 1 1 Introduction 1:11 2 The Stuff of Legends 6:29 3 Dark Power? 4:38 4 Revolution in Music 2:57 5 A New Kind of Song 6:45 6 The Role of the Orchestra 7:11 7 The Leitmotif 5:12 Das Rheingold 8 Prelude 4:29 9 Scene 1 4:43 10 Scene 2 6:20 11 Scene 3 4:09 12 Scene 4 8:42 2 OE Wagner Ring Cycle Booklet 10-8-7:Layout 2 13/8/07 11:07 Page 3 Die Walküre 13 Background 0:58 14 Act I 10:54 15 Act II 4:48 TT 79:34 CD 2 1 Act II cont. 3:37 2 Act III 3:53 3 The Final Scene: Wotan and Brünnhilde 6:51 Siegfried 4 Act I 9:05 5 Act II 7:25 6 Act III 12:16 Götterdämmerung 7 Background 2:05 8 Prologue 8:04 9 Act I 5:39 10 Act II 4:58 11 Act III 4:27 12 The Final Scene: The End of Everything? 11:09 TT 79:35 3 OE Wagner Ring Cycle Booklet 10-8-7:Layout 2 13/8/07 11:07 Page 4 Music taken from: Das Rheingold – 8.660170–71 Wotan ...............................................................Wolfgang Probst Froh...............................................................Bernhard Schneider Donner ....................................................................Motti Kastón Loge........................................................................Robert Künzli Fricka...............................................................Michaela
    [Show full text]
  • “Hagene, Der Vil Ungetriuwe Man”? Courtly Rivalry, Loyalty Conflict, and the Figure of Hagen in the Nibelungenlied
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Masters Theses Dissertations and Theses August 2014 “Hagene, der vil ungetriuwe man”? Courtly Rivalry, Loyalty Conflict, and the Figure of Hagen in the Nibelungenlied Katherine DeVane Brown University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/masters_theses_2 Part of the German Literature Commons, and the Medieval Studies Commons Recommended Citation DeVane Brown, Katherine, "“Hagene, der vil ungetriuwe man”? Courtly Rivalry, Loyalty Conflict, and the Figure of Hagen in the Nibelungenlied" (2014). Masters Theses. 5. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/masters_theses_2/5 This Open Access Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Dissertations and Theses at ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. “Hagene, der vil ungetriuwe man”? Courtly Rivalry, Loyalty Conflict, and the Figure of Hagen in the Nibelungenlied A Thesis Presented by KATHERINE ROSE DEVANE BROWN Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS May 2014 German and Scandinavian Studies “Hagene, der vil ungetriuwe man”? Courtly Rivalry, Loyalty Conflict, and the Figure
    [Show full text]
  • WAGNER and the VOLSUNGS None of Wagner’S Works Is More Closely Linked with Old Norse, and More Especially Old Icelandic, Culture
    WAGNER AND THE VOLSUNGS None of Wagner’s works is more closely linked with Old Norse, and more especially Old Icelandic, culture. It would be carrying coals to Newcastle if I tried to go further into the significance of the incom- parable eddic poems. I will just mention that on my first visit to Iceland I was allowed to gaze on the actual manuscript, even to leaf through it . It is worth noting that Richard Wagner possessed in his library the same Icelandic–German dictionary that is still used today. His copy bears clear signs of use. This also bears witness to his search for the meaning and essence of the genuinely mythical, its very foundation. Wolfgang Wagner Introduction to the program of the production of the Ring in Reykjavik, 1994 Selma Gu›mundsdóttir, president of Richard-Wagner-Félagi› á Íslandi, pre- senting Wolfgang Wagner with a facsimile edition of the Codex Regius of the Poetic Edda on his eightieth birthday in Bayreuth, August 1999. Árni Björnsson Wagner and the Volsungs Icelandic Sources of Der Ring des Nibelungen Viking Society for Northern Research University College London 2003 © Árni Björnsson ISBN 978 0 903521 55 0 The cover illustration is of the eruption of Krafla, January 1981 (Photograph: Ómar Ragnarsson), and Wagner in 1871 (after an oil painting by Franz von Lenbach; cf. p. 51). Cover design by Augl‡singastofa Skaparans, Reykjavík. Printed by Short Run Press Limited, Exeter CONTENTS PREFACE ............................................................................................ 6 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................... 7 BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF RICHARD WAGNER ............................ 17 CHRONOLOGY ............................................................................... 64 DEVELOPMENT OF GERMAN NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS ..68 ICELANDIC STUDIES IN GERMANY .........................................
    [Show full text]
  • German Literature/Ecology Charlotte Melin Department of German, Scandinavian and Dutch University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
    Beyond the “Two Cultures Model”: German Literature/Ecology Charlotte Melin Department of German, Scandinavian and Dutch University of Minnesota-Twin Cities The Case for German + Sustainability Studies Readings Forum Discussions Global Connections On-line “Literary intellectuals at the one pole—at the other scientists . .” Each week students participate in a discussion blog written in Links from the course website facilitate exploration of —C. P. Snow, The Two Cultures (1959) German. The topics ask students to connect the assigned readings international connections through supplementary readings, with other aspects of their learning and experience. Students who video, and audio materials. Students have opportunities to “. language is understood as an essential element of have engaged in study abroad add contrastive perspectives. critically evaluate the reliability of websites, use on-line a human being’s thought processes, perceptions, and reference sources, and encounter dialectical variations in self-expressions; and as such it is considered to be at the Sample questions: spoken German. core of translingual and transcultural competence. Language is a complex multifunctional phenomenon that links an individual to other individuals, to communities, and Kaminer uses descriptions of photographs at the beginning to national cultures.” of his work to contrast the relationship to nature of —MLA Ad Hoc Committee on Foreign Languages (2007) generations in and past and people today. Select two photographs that show the relationship between man and “Germany is global leader in exports of environmental protection nature and describe them in German. products” —Umweltbundesamt/The Federal Environmental Agency Compare the understanding of environmental issues in (2008) Pfisters Muehle with the situation today.
    [Show full text]
  • The Cultural Memory of German Victimhood in Post-1990 Popular German Literature and Television
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Digital Commons@Wayne State University Wayne State University Wayne State University Dissertations 1-1-2010 The ulturC al Memory Of German Victimhood In Post-1990 Popular German Literature And Television Pauline Ebert Wayne State University Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations Part of the European History Commons, European Languages and Societies Commons, and the German Literature Commons Recommended Citation Ebert, Pauline, "The ulturC al Memory Of German Victimhood In Post-1990 Popular German Literature And Television" (2010). Wayne State University Dissertations. Paper 12. This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@WayneState. It has been accepted for inclusion in Wayne State University Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@WayneState. THE CULTURAL MEMORY OF GERMAN VICTIMHOOD IN POST-1990 POPULAR GERMAN LITERATURE AND TELEVISION by ANJA PAULINE EBERT DISSERTATION Submitted to the Graduate School of Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY 2010 MAJOR: MODERN LANGUAGES Approved by: ________________________________________ Advisor Date ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ © COPYRIGHT BY ANJA PAULINE EBERT 2010 All Rights Reserved Dedication I dedicate this dissertation … to Axel for his support, patience and understanding; to my parents for their help in financial straits; to Tanja and Vera for listening; to my Omalin, Hilla Ebert, whom I love deeply. ii Acknowledgements In the first place I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my advisor, Professor Anne Rothe.
    [Show full text]
  • Gunther's Head and Hagen's Heart. Royal Sacrifice In
    Corpus Mundi. 2020. No 1 От литературного к кинематографическому дискурсу GUNTHER’S HEAD AND HAGEN’S HEART. ROYAL SACRIFICE IN THE LAY OF NIBELUNGS Asya A. Sarakaeva (a) (a) Hainan State University. Haikou, China. Email: asia-lin[at]mail.ru Abstract Thee article deals with the ficnal part of the German epic Nibelungenlied to learn the real significcance, cultural and ideological context of these episodes. Thee author analyzes literary and anthropological theories, as well as archaeological ficnds to conclude that royal deaths described in the epic refliect the ancient practice of human sacrificce. Keywords the Nibelungenlied; the Elder Edda; interpretative level; human sacrificce; intra- communal violence Theis work is licensed under a Creative Commons «Atteribution» ?.0 International License. 135 Corpus Mundi. 2020. No 1 From Literary to Cinematic Discourse ГОЛОВА ГУНТЕРА И СЕРДЦЕ ХАГЕНА. ЖЕРТВОПРИНОШЕНИЕ В «ПЕСНИ О НИБЕЛУНГАХ» Саракаева Ася Алиевна (a) (a) Хайнаньский университет. Хайкоу, Китай. Email: asia-lin[at]mail.ru Аннотация В статье подробному рассмотрению подвергается финальная часть немецкой эпической поэмы «Песнь о нибелунгах», автор ставит себе задачу выяснить подлинное значение, культурный и идеологический контекст этих эпизодов. На основании анализа литературоведческих и антропологических теорий и археологических находок автор приходит к выводу, что гибель королей, описанная в поэме, отражает древную практику человеческих жертвоприношений. Ключевые слова «Песнь о нибелунгах»; «Старшая Эдда»; уровни интерпретации; человеческое жертвоприношение; внутриобщинное насилие Это произведение доступно по лицензии Creative Commons « Atteribution » («Атрибуция») ?.0 Всемирная 136 Corpus Mundi. 2020. No 1 От литературного к кинематографическому дискурсу Thee German epic Nibelungenlied (Thee Lay of Nibelungs) is a unique work of European medieval literature. It can boast a long and elaborate plot, rich imagery and unprecedented for its time psychological insights into human nature, but that’s not what makes it unique.
    [Show full text]
  • Old Norse Mythology and the Ring of the Nibelung
    Declaration in lieu of oath: I, Erik Schjeide born on: July 27, 1954 in: Santa Monica, California declare, that I produced this Master Thesis by myself and did not use any sources and resources other than the ones stated and that I did not have any other illegal help, that this Master Thesis has not been presented for examination at any other national or international institution in any shape or form, and that, if this Master Thesis has anything to do with my current employer, I have informed them and asked their permission. Arcata, California, June 15, 2008, Old Norse Mythology and The Ring of the Nibelung Master Thesis zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades “Master of Fine Arts (MFA) New Media” Universitätslehrgang “Master of Fine Arts in New Media” eingereicht am Department für Interaktive Medien und Bildungstechnologien Donau-Universität Krems von Erik Schjeide Krems, July 2008 Betreuer/Betreuerin: Carolyn Guertin Table of Contents I. Abstract 1 II. Introduction 3 III. Wagner’s sources 7 IV. Wagner’s background and The Ring 17 V. Das Rheingold: Mythological beginnings 25 VI. Die Walküre: Odin’s intervention in worldly affairs 34 VII. Siegfried: The hero’s journey 43 VIII. Götterdämmerung: Twilight of the gods 53 IX. Conclusion 65 X. Sources 67 Appendix I: The Psychic Life Cycle as described by Edward Edinger 68 Appendix II: Noteworthy Old Norse mythical deities 69 Appendix III: Noteworthy names in The Volsung Saga 70 Appendix IV: Summary of The Thidrek Saga 72 Old Norse Mythology and The Ring of the Nibelung I. Abstract As an MFA student in New Media, I am creating stop-motion animated short films.
    [Show full text]
  • Study Guide for School Days at the New Jersey Renaissance Faire
    Study Guide for School Days at the New Jersey Renaissance Faire New Jersey Renaissance Faire 2016 NJRenFaire.com Facebook.com/NewJerseyRenFaire @NJRenFaire Facebook.com/NJRFedutainment 2 New Jersey Renaissance Faire WELCOME TO CROSSFORD “There be magic in these woods” The small village of Crossford is a typical English village of the 16th century. It has its farmers, its miller, its baker, oh, and its magical forest. Perhaps that is not typical, but it is ordinary for the citizens of Crossford, as it has been for decades. This forest is very old indeed. It has an energy all its own. It is the home to many fairies who hold court within its very boundaries. During times of magical power, which fall upon the solstices and equinoxes, the forest finds a person in need of direction, someone caught at a crossroads...and it brings him or her here to Crossford. This gateway transcends not only space but time itself. Where is Crossford? Crossford is a village in Northumberland, England. If it existed in 2016, it would stand approximately 20 miles southwest of Alnwick Castle, home of the Duke of Northumberland. However, as with all magical places, it has faded away with time. Northumberland Northumberland is a county in Northeast England. It shares a border with Scotland along its northern edge. Due to its geographical location, it has been the scene of many battles between England and Scotland. As evidence of its violent history, Northumberland has more castles than any other county in England. This includes the castles of Alnwick, Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh, Newcastle and Warkworth.
    [Show full text]