Die Klage (1191/1204)
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Heroic Epic
Die Klage (1191/1204)
Bartsch, K.(ed.): Diu Klage. Leipzig 1875, Reprint Darmstadt 1964.
NLKl-25:
Recapitulation of the major events of the Nibelungenlied: Kriemhild’s marriage to Siegfried and later to Etzel, her continuous grief about Siegfried’s murder, the legitimacy of her vengeance, praise of her faithfulness.
Motif References:
T 211 Faithfulness to marriage in death
P 525.3 He nearest to blood of slain man must avenge his death [Blood-revenge]
NLKl-159:
Kriemhild invited her relatives with the intention to have her revenge on Hagen and kill her husband’s murderer. The Burgundians remained loyal to Hagen and all of them lost their lives in a terrible massacre.
Motif References:
K 811.1 Enemies invited to banquet and killed
NLKl-317:
Listing of heroes who have fought on Etzel’s side: Dietrich, Hildebrand, Boedelin, Herman from Polân, Sigeher von Walâchen, Walber, Irnfrit, Hâwart, Îring (three exiled warriors served the Hunnish king) and finally Rüedeger.
Motif References:
P 50 Noblemen (knights) [rules of chivalry]
Q 431 Punishment: banishment (exile)
NLKl-473:
Giselher and Gernot are killed. Finally, Hildebrand beheaded Kriemhild in Etzel’s presence.
Motif References:
K 2211.1 Treacherous brother-in-law
NLKl-569:
Kriemhild has earned her place in heaven because of the supreme loyalty demonstrated towards her murdered husband.
Motif References:
Q 72 Loyalty rewarded
Q 172 Reward: admission to heaven
NLKl-587:
Etzel and the other survivors of the carnage lament the dead. Corpses are removed from the hall’s entrance. Many people mourn for Kriemhild, who has killed strong Hagen and then died by Hildebrand’s hand.
Motif References:
Q 211 Murder punished
Z 292 Death of hero [heroine]
Q 411.6 Death as punishment for murder
Q 421 Punishment: beheading
F 1041.21 Reactions to excessive grief
NLKl-759:
Dietrich laments Kriemhild and has her corpse lain out on the bier. Etzel mourns for his dead relatives and vassals and is exhorted by Dietrich to be moderate in expressing his grief.
Motif References:
J 1060 Miscellaneous aspects of wisdom
NLKl-883:
Etzel recalls Bloedelîn’s ignoble fight against his Burgundian guests and his own conversion and, after five years, apostasy from Christianity. He now regrets having abandoned his Christian faith.
Motif References:
P 324.3 Guests’ life inviolable
V 380 Religious beliefs – miscellaneous
NLKl-1080:
All lamented brave Îring, who dared to fight against Hagen. His and his followers’ corpses are laid on biers.
Motif References:
NLKl-1131:
Mourning for Gunther, Dietrich recounts the events which have led to his death: Hagen’s provocations, Gunther’s refusal to end the fighting, the single combat between him and Gunther which resulted in the latter’s capture and finally Kriemhild’s order to behead her brother.
Motif References:
P 12.9.1 (Bm) King mourns dead enemy
P 550.2 (Li) Single combat
NLKl-1249:
Hildebrand and others accuse Hagen (whom they call vâlant, devil) and the Burgundians in general of being responsible for the tragedy because of their haughtiness and arrogance.
Motif References:
L 460 Pride brought low – miscellaneous
NLKl-1329:
Lamentation for Volker (Hildebrand refers to his nickname “minstrel”) and Dankwart.
Motif References:
Z 731 (Bm) Eponymous account of nicknames
NLKl-1447:
Etzel and Dietrich bemoan the demise of the Amelung warriors: Wolfprant, Sigestap, Wolfwîn, Nîtgêr, Gêrbart, Wîcnant, Sigehêr, and Wîchart. Since there are not enough men, women have to take the armor off the corpses.
Motif References:
P 600 Customs
NLKl-1638:
Inside the palace hall, corpses cover the floor and blood gushes down the drains.
Motif References:
F 1084.1 Deep streams of blood flow during battle
NLKl-1651:
Hildebrand finds Wolfhart, whose hands still clasp his sword so firmly that it has to be removed by force. Dietrich and Hildebrand bewail his valiant death.
Motif References:
NLKl-1784:
The corpse of Giselher is found and laid next to his sister’s. His betrothal to Rüedeger’s daughter is mentioned.
Motif References:
T 165.9 (Li) Widow and maid
NLKl-1851:
Gernot still clings to his sword with which he killed Rüedeger, who once had bestowed it upon him. His body is carried out of the hall.
Motif References:
N 399 Additional unlucky accidents
NLKl-1958:
All mourn Rüedeger’s death. Dietrich recalls his good deeds: he reconciled Dietrich with Etzel and remained loyal to the exile. As Hildebrand tries to carry the body out of the hall, his wound opens and he almost faints. Etzel kneels down to help him recover his strength.
Motif References:
P 319 Deeds of friendship – miscellaneous
J 910 Humility of the great
F 1041.21.6 Tearing hair and clothes from excessive grief
NLKl-2175:
The bodies of 1700 Christian and heathen warriors are laid on biers. 86 maidens educated by Helche join in the mourning. People search for their dead relatives.
Motif References:
NLKl-2305:
Etzel swoons over the corpses of his wife and son. Blood comes out of his ears and mouth.
Motif References:
F 1041.21.1 Illness from excessive grief
F 1041.21.7 Swooning from grief
NLKl-2327:
Burial of the dead: corpses wrapped in precious textiles, masses and prayers are said, deathwatch, mass grave is dug for the dead kings’ men, burial.
Motif References:
V 69 Funeral rites – miscellaneous
Z 200 Heroes
NLKl-2434:
Etzel is in despair and inconsolable. Hildebrand encourages Dietrich and Etzel to proceed to action: Dietrich should take with him what Helche has granted to him and leave together with Herrât; Etzel should order his servants to clean the dead’s clothes and weapons. Dietrich advises Etzel to inform the bereaved families.
Motif References:
NLKl-2564:
Seven of Rüedeger’s servants bring the dire news of the disaster to Bechelâren, Swemmelîn is to convey them to Worms. The messengers are instructed to withhold the news from the people they meet during their journey.
Motif References:
P 14.15.2 Court messenger
NLKl-2709:
Rüedeger’s servants and Swemmelîn leave Etzel’s court, taking with them their lord’s steed, his garments and weapons. In Vienna, a duchess Isalde receives them. The town’s inhabitants lament Rüedeger’s death.
Motif References:
NLKl-2845:
The messengers arrive at Bechelâren. Gotelint narrates the dream she has had the preceding night: her husband’s hair had gone grey, his followers were caught in a rain, and she herself had lost her hair; Rüedeger, standing inside a dark room, called her to come in and bolted the door after she had entered.
Motif References:
Z 201.1 (Bm) Hero’s famous horse
D 1813.1.4 Dream reveals death of brother [husband, father]
NLKl-2903:
Rüedeger’s daughter relates her own dream: her father’s horse has fallen dead after it had drunk water. Knights welcome the messengers according to their rank: first Swemmelîn, then the servants.
Motif References:
D 1813.1.4 Dream reveals death of brother [husband, father]
NLKl-2945:
The messengers conceal Rüedeger’s death from his wife and daughter, pretending that he has to remain in Etzel’s service for a while. They also announce Dietrich’s arrival in Bechelâren in twelve days’ time.
Motif References:
K 2370 Miscellaneous deceptions
NLKl-3057:
Moved by his grief and sorrow, one of the messengers starts to weep and gives rise to the suspicion that they have told lies.
Motif References:
H 14 Recognition by observing emotional reactions of another to object of common experience
NLKl-3103:
Rüedeger’s wife and his daughter learn the circumstances leading up to his death. The two ladies swoon from grief and blood comes out of their mouth. Loud lamentations.
Motif References:
F 1041.21.1 Illness from excessive grief
F 1041.21.7 Swooning from grief
NLKl-3287:
The envoys journey to Pilgrim, the bishop of Passau and relative of the Burgundian royal family. The dead warriors are sorely lamented. The bishop has the bells tolled all over the town and the priests say masses; he interprets the Burgundians’ death as consequence of their haughtiness.
Motif References:
L 460 Pride brought low – miscellaneous
NLKl-3459:
Pilgrim invites Swemmelîn to come to his court on his way home and recount all the events leading to the massacre. Additionally he would require other witnesses to relate their memories and then have the story written down.
Motif References:
NLKl-3485:
The messengers leave, accompanied by Pilgrim’s men, and travel to the Rhine. During the journey through Bavaria, they cannot refrain from spreading the news and thus margrave Else learns of it.
Motif References:
NLKl-3527:
Arrival at Worms.
Motif References:
NLKl-3627:
Swemmelîn brings the tidings to Brunhild, who bewails the heroes’ death. Also Ute, who dwells in the monastery of Lôrse, learns from the disaster. All of Gunther’s vassals assemble at the Burgundian court.
Motif References:
NLKl-3742:
The king’s cupbearer, Sindolt, reminds Brunhild that her son will be crowned soon. Swemmel relates the events that haven taken place at Etzel’s court.
Motif References:
Q 211 Murder punished
Z 356 Unique survivor
Q 411.6 Death as punishment for murder
P 525.3 He nearest to blood of slain man must avenge his death [Blood-revenge]
P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War
NLKl-3952:
Seven days later, Ute dies from grief over her children’s death. Rûmolt laments his lords, putting the blame for their death on Hagen only.
Motif References:
F 1041.1.2.2.4 Death from hearing of son’s (sons’, [daughter’s]) death
NLKl-4084:
In a ceremony Brunhild’s and Gunther’s son is dubbed and crowned. The vassals receive their fiefs.
Motif References:
P 17.0.2 Son succeeds father as king
P 634 Feasts
NLKl-4100:
Swemmelîn returns to his lord Etzel. Dietrich determines to return to his country, even though this is against Etzel’s will. Herrât takes with her some of the gifts she has received from Helche, among them a precious saddle. After Dietrich’s departure, Etzel swoons from grief and later on hardly speaks a word and withdraws from the people around him.
Motif References:
P 15.15 (Bm) King in exile
F 868 Extraordinary saddle
F 1041.21.7 Swooning from grief
NLKl-4207:
Sojourn of Dietrich, Hildebrand and Herrât in Bechelâren: Dietlint, Rüedeger’s daughter, receives them since her mother has died from grief three days ago. Dietrich promises to provide Dietlint with a new husband as soon as he is reestablished in his country.
Motif References:
M 149 Vows concerning sex – miscellaneous
T 211.9.1 Wife dies of grief for death of husband
F 1041.1.2.2 Woman dies on hearing of her husband’s [lover’s, fiancé’s] death
NLKl-4295:
Bishop Pilgerîn of Pazowe has charged his scribe, Master Kuonrât, to write down in Latin the events related to him by Swemmelîn and other witnesses. The story has often been translated into German since then. The poet concludes by stating that he has no certain knowledge of Etzel’s fate.
Motif References:
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