Das Eckenlied (<1230)
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Heroic Epic
Das Eckenlied (<1230)
Zupitza, J.: Deutsches Heldenbuch V. Berlin 1870. Reprint 1968. p. 217-264
EckL-1:
Ecke envies Dietrich of Bern because of his fame throughout all countries. He wants to challenge him to single combat.
Motif References:
W 195 Envy
F 531 Giant
H 1561.2 Single combat to prove valor
EckL-21:
The queen gives Ecke precious armor, the armor that once Emperor Ortnit and Wolfdietrich called their own. Ortnit gave it to his monastery and she bought it. It is of tremendous value – more than whole countries. If Ecke wins the combat, the queen promises him that he may choose between the three queens for a lover. She tells him that when Wolfdietrich felt that his end was near, he went to the Tischen monastery to do penance. He posted himself on a bier in the church. One night all his opponents visited him and he had to fight them again until dawn.
Motif References:
H 331.2.1 Suitor contest: success in battle [single combat]
E 425 Revenant in human form
F 531.5.1.0.1 (Bm) Courteous giant
F 824 Extraordinary [part of] armor
EckL-31:
The precious armor is described in detail. The queen arms him with her own hands. She brings a horse, but Ecke is too heavy for any horse. He decides to walk and he walks extremely fast.
Motif References:
F 531.2.7 Giant so large he cannot be carried by a horse
F 610.7 Strong man is so heavy that no horse can carry him all day [that can’t even be carried by two horses]
EckL-38:
Ecke walks to a vast forest and finds a helpful hermit, who gives him accommodation and food and shows him the way to Bern.
Motif References:
P 320 Hospitality
N 843 Hermit as helper
EckL-52:
In the forest, Ecke encounters a merwunder, which is half horse and half man, wearing weapons made of horn. He defeats and kills him.
Motif References:
B 21 Centaur: man-horse
F 628 Strong man as mighty slayer
F 628.1.0.1 Strong man slays monster
EckL-68:
Ecke meets a wounded knight, Helferich von Lune, who has extraordinarily deep wounds. He and two other knights were in a combat with Dietrich. The other two were killed; he was deeply wounded. Ecke helps him and treats his wounds.
Motif References:
F 531.5.1 Giant friendly to man
N 812 Giant or ogre as helper
EckL-69:
Ecke eventually encounters Dietrich. He wants to persuade Dietrich to fight him because of his precious armor and because he promised the queens to bring him along. He is a knight in service of the ladies. Dietrich asks him where he obtained the armor. Ecke tells the armor’s story. Dwarves who worked on it for one year made the helmet with the golden band around it. The sword was made for a king whom the dwarves served and for whom they built the hollow mountain. A ruby is inlaid. Somebody disguised as a wild dwarf stole the sword. King Ruodlieb’s son killed the giant Hugebald with this sword.
Motif References:
F 451.5.1.7 Dwarfs serve mortals
F 451.3.4.1 Dwarfs as artificers
F 451.3.4.2 Dwarfs as smiths
F 628.2.3 Strong man kills giant
F 824 Extraordinary [part of] armor
EckL-84:
Dietrich refuses to fight with Ecke because of the extraordinary qualities of Ecke’s sword. Ecke responds cunningly that the qualities he boasted of were a lie. He starts to insult Dietrich to arouse his anger. They even start a religious dispute. “God need not help me”, says the giant. He rejects God’s help in the fight. Therefore, Dietrich promises to fight him the following morning.
Motif References:
P 556.0.1 (Bm) Challenge to single combat [feud]
N 817.0.1 God as helper
EckL-87:
Ecke calls Dietrich a coward in order to persuade him to fight with him because of his precious armor.
Motif References:
W 121 Cowardice
EckL-93:
Description of Ecke’s breastplate: It has a “ponit” which is the marvelous work of the three queens with precious inlaid stones. The rich gold embroidery displays merwunder, nightingale and eagle.
Motif References:
F 820 Extraordinary clothing and ornaments
EckL-98:
Dietrich rejects the idea of the service of a lady. He is convinced that the ladies ridicule them. Again, Ecke demands the fight and finally Dietrich dismounts from his horse and agrees to the combat. The twigs of the trees start burning because of the sparks from the furious strikes. They fight until sunset. Ecke breaks Dietrich’s shield. Dietrich shields himself with tree branches.
Motif References:
F 960.3 Extraordinary nature phenomena during furious battle
EckL-116:
Dietrich accuses Ecke that the devil has taken possession of him..
Motif References:
K 2385 Demon enters person and refuses to leave until wishes are fulfilled [Demonic possession]
EckL-128:
Dietrich and Ecke wrestle. Dietrich demands Ecke’s surrender. Ecke refuses. He wants him to be his mate in his service. Ecke refuses. Dietrich beats him into oblivion.
Motif References:
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
EckL-146:
Dietrich takes Ecke’s brünne, which is too long for him, so he cuts off one klafter. He takes Ecke’s sword. The dying Ecke begs him to cut off his head. Dietrich agrees but afterwards regrets Ecke’s death.
Motif References:
F 531.5 Giants and men
F 531.4.5 Giant’s enormous weapons
P 557 Military customs
F 628.2.3 Strong man kills giant
EckL-152:
Dietrich finds a sleeping woman at a well. He wakes her up, tells her his adventures and asks her to treat his wounds. She treats and dresses his wounds and gives him a magical ointment that renders him healthy after three days. She is a queen from across the sea (sea fairy), and 500 knights serve her. Dietrich asks her to reveal his future. She tells him that he will suffer many fights, but have a long life.
Motif References:
M 301.6 Fairies as prophets
F 344 Fairies heal mortals
M 356.1.2 Prophecies concerning fate of heroes in battle
D 813 Magic object received from fairy
N 815 Fairy as helper
EckL-161:
After a while, he hears the voice of a woman. He dismounts his horse and finds a young woman who begs for his help, because the giant Vasolt is hunting her down with his hounds. He takes her on his horse and ties up the bloodhounds. Vasolt enters the scene and angrily unties the hounds.
Motif References:
T 471.2 Wild man as ravisher of women
F 531.5.7.0.4 (Bm) Giant ravishes women
G 550 Rescue from ogre
F 567.1 Wild woman
F 610.1 Wild man of superhuman strength
N 838 Hero (culture hero) as helper
EckL-166:
Description of Vasolt: He is a giant with long hair in braids sticking in steel bands nailed to his helmet. He is angry because Dietrich has disturbed his hunt. Dietrich demands the maiden, and Vasolt grants it.
Motif References:
F 531.1.6.3.1 Giant (giantess) with particularly long hair
EckL-172:
Dietrich rides away with the maiden, who finds a root on the way in order to heal Dietrich’s wounds. After treatment Dietrich recovers, but feels very tired and wants to sleep. The wild maiden watches over him. When she hears Vasolt’s horn, she tries to wake him, but Dietrich is so fast asleep that she calls out in vain. At last he wakes up and sends her away to hide in the woods. Vasolt hunts her down with his hounds and she screams.
Motif References:
T 471.2 Wild man as ravisher of women
D 967 Magic roots
D 1500.1.4 Magic healing plant.
EckL-183:
Dietrich rides to her help. Vasolt threatens to hang them both. He takes tree branches as weapons, but Dietrich cuts them with his sword. He wounds Vasolt and cuts off his plaits. Vasolt surrenders to Dietrich. He swears an oath of obedience. Dietrich demands a threefold oath.
Motif References:
Z 71.1 Formulistic number: three
R 75 Surrendering
M 150 Other vows and oaths
M 500 (Bm) Threats
F 621.2 Trees pulled up by giant
EckL-189:
Dietrich introduces himself, and Vasolt finds out that he killed Ecke, his brother. Now Vasolt is king over the family’s heritage. He doubts that Dietrich has defeated Ecke honorably. He challenges Dietrich to single combat, thus breaking his oath of peace and surrender.
Motif References:
P 17 Succession to the throne
P 17.5 Brothers rule jointly
M 101 Punishment for broken oaths
P 556 Challenge to battle
K 2100 False accusation
K 2116.5 Warrior falsely accused of having killed his sleeping adversary
EckL-195:
Vasolt and Dietrich fight. Dietrich defeats him. The maiden begs for Vasolt’s life. Dietrich grants her wish. The wild maiden takes his armor and dresses his wounds. Vasolt and Dietrich say farewell to the maiden and ride to a castle. They are welcomed and accommodated. Dwarves live there. They swear an oath of service to Dietrich.
Motif References:
P 320 Hospitality
F 451.5.1.7 Dwarfs serve mortals
F 451.4.5.1 Dwarfs are ruled by a king
F 451.4.3.6 Dwarfs’ castle of gold [marble]
F 451.5 Dwarfs and human beings
P 550.2 (Li) Single combat
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
N 769.1 (Bm) Accidental meeting leads to pledge of sworn brotherhood
EckL-208:
They ride to a hollow hill where the young giant Eggenot stands guard. At first sight the young giant mistakes him for Ecke because of his armor. Then he wants to know about Ecke’s death. Vasolt advises Dietrich to pretend to be Ecke, because otherwise the young giant would challenge him to battle. However, Dietrich admits that he has killed Ecke.
Motif References:
H 126 Identification by coat of arms
F 531.2.1 Extremely tall giant
F 531.6.8.5 Giant’s social relations
F 759.2 Hollow mountain
EckL-217:
The giant challenges Dietrich to single combat, and Dietrich kills Eggenot. Vasolt mourns his relative, but Dietrich warns him not to break his oath again, and Vasolt obeys. They ride into the forest, because Vasolt knows that his mother and sister dwell there. They arrive at their home, a beautiful castle. Vasolt warns Dietrich of his mother’s fury.
Motif References:
F 531.0.4 Giant woman
P 550.2 (Li) Single combat
F 628.2.3 Strong man kills giant
EckL-232:
Dietrich hates the idea to fight against a woman. At first, the giantess Birkhilt mistakes him for Ecke, but Vasolt tells her that Dietrich is Ecke’s killer. She demands revenge and pulls out a tree for a weapon. Reluctantly Dietrich begins to defend himself. They fight furiously. At last Dietrich defeats her and kills her with Ecke’s sword. He cuts her in two.
Motif References:
W 11.5.12 Hero in battle refuses to slay charioteers, women or physicians [Hero refuses to slay suicidal attacker]
F 531.6.12.6 Giant slain by man
F 621.2 Trees pulled up by giant
EckL-239:
The daughter, the giantess Uodelgart, hears her mother’s death cry and comes forward. Although Vasolt warns her of Dietrich’s extraordinary strength, she takes a tree and attacks Dietrich. Dietrich cuts the tree in two and takes her by the hair.
Motif References:
F 531.0.4 Giant woman
P 550.2 (Li) Single combat
F 621.2 Trees pulled up by giant
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