Brunhild
A Brunhild is a female character from a Germanic heroic legend and a central figure in the Norse mythology and continental Germanic tradition.
- Context:
- She can (typically) be depicted as a Valkyrie in Norse Mythology, tasked with selecting the slain warriors destined for Valhalla.
- She can (often) be presented as a Shieldmaiden or a supernatural warrior queen, embodying strength, beauty, and wisdom.
- ...
- She can be portrayed as an Enchanted Maiden who is awakened from a magical sleep by Sigurd in the Völsunga Saga.
- She can symbolize Betrayed Love and Tragic Vengeance, seeking revenge against those who deceive her, such as in the Nibelungenlied.
- She can shift from being a heroic figure to a Fallen Heroine whose desire for vengeance leads to tragic outcomes.
- She can be shown as a Proud and Regal Figure in the Nibelungenlied, contesting for power and control against other kings and queens.
- She can wield Supernatural Abilities such as invulnerability or magical insight, making her a formidable opponent and a revered figure.
- She can serve as a central catalyst for the Death of Sigurd, as her actions and schemes contribute to his betrayal and murder.
- She can embody the ideals of Heroic Honor and Loyalty, yet her pride and sense of justice often lead to tragic self-destruction.
- She can represent a conflation of mythological and historical elements, as her name and traits are often linked to the historical queen Brunhilda of Austrasia.
- ...
- Example(s):
- In the Poetic Edda ("Helreið Brynhildar" and "Sigurdarkviða in skamma"), Brunhild is a valkyrie who falls in love with Sigurd, but vows vengeance after being deceived into marrying another man.
- In the Völsunga Saga, Brunhild appears as a Shieldmaiden who falls in love with Sigurd after being awakened from an enchanted sleep.
- In the Nibelungenlied, she is depicted as a proud Amazonian queen, who is tricked into marrying Gunther with Siegfried's help, leading to her bitter desire for revenge.
- In Richard Wagner's opera cycle "Der Ring des Nibelungen", Brunhild (Brünnhilde) is a central character, transformed into a tragic heroine who defies the gods for love.
- ...
- Counter-Example(s):
- Gudrun (or Kriemhild), another prominent female figure in the Nibelungenlied, who seeks vengeance for Siegfried's death but with a different motivation and outcome.
- Freydís Eiríksdóttir, a Shieldmaiden from the Norse Sagas, who displays brutality and ambition but lacks the supernatural aura of Brunhild.
- Beowulf, a Germanic Hero, who embodies martial valor but whose legend is centered on battling monsters, contrasting with Brunhild's focus on honor and betrayal.
- Hagen, a hero in the Nibelungenlied who plays a pivotal role in Siegfried’s murder, representing a pragmatic and ruthless archetype rather than a tragic figure.
- See: Richard Wagner, New High German, Germanic Heroic Legend, Visigoths, Brunhilda of Austrasia, Shieldmaiden, Valkyrie, Völsunga Saga, Poetic Edda, Nibelungenlied, Sigurd, Burgundians.
References
2024
- (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunhild Retrieved:2024-10-8.
- Brunhild, also known as Brunhilda or Brynhild is a female character from Germanic heroic legend. She may have her origins in the Visigothic princess and queen Brunhilda of Austrasia.
In the Norse tradition, Brunhild is a shieldmaiden or valkyrie, who appears as a main character in the and some Eddic poems treating the same events. In the continental Germanic tradition, where she is a central character in the , she is a powerful Amazon-like queen. In both traditions, she is instrumental in bringing about the death of the hero Sigurd or Siegfried after he deceives her into marrying the Burgundian king Gunther or Gunnar. In both traditions, the immediate cause for her desire to have Siegfried murdered is a quarrel with the hero's wife, Gudrun or Kriemhild. In the Scandinavian tradition, but not in the continental tradition, Brunhild kills herself after Sigurd's death.
Richard Wagner made Brunhild (as ') an important character in his opera cycle . The majority of modern conceptions of the figure have been inspired or influenced by Wagner's depiction.
Brunhild has been called "the paramount figure of Germanic legend."The introduces her by saying:
- Brunhild, also known as Brunhilda or Brynhild is a female character from Germanic heroic legend. She may have her origins in the Visigothic princess and queen Brunhilda of Austrasia.