The Nibelungenlied

by

Anonymous

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Etzel Character Analysis

Etzel is the widowed King of Hungary (his character is based on Attila the Hun). Because he is a pagan, he doubts that the Christian Kriemhild will consider marrying him, but hopes that his extravagant wealth might persuade her. Rüdiger, Etzel’s vassal, travels to Burgundy to secure Kriemhild’s consent, and she returns with him to Hungary to become Etzel’s new bride. Etzel seems generally good-natured, gullible, and quite oblivious to what’s happening around him—he apparently never suspects Kriemhild’s persistent grief and vengefulness, for example, and is persuaded that the Burgundians remain armed out of custom, not fear for their lives. After his son Ortlieb is slain, however, he desires no mercy for the perpetrators. Nevertheless, he is shocked and grieved to see Kriemhild slay Hagen. With Dietrich and Hildebrand, he is one of the only characters who remains alive at the story’s end.

Etzel Quotes in The Nibelungenlied

The The Nibelungenlied quotes below are all either spoken by Etzel or refer to Etzel. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Idealized and Deviant Womanhood Theme Icon
).
Chapter 21 Quotes

Etzel’s dominion was so widely known that the most fearless warriors that were ever heard of among Christians and heathen alike were always to be found at his court, all having joined him. And always — a thing that will hardly happen again — the Christian life and the heathen existed side by side. But whichever rite a man followed, the King’s magnanimity saw to it that all were amply rewarded.

Related Characters: Etzel
Page Number: 170
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 31 Quotes

Leaving Bloedelin resolved on battle, the Queen went to table with King Etzel and his men. She had laid a deadly plot against their guests.

Kriemhild’s old grief was embedded deep in her heart. Since there was no beginning the fighting in any other way, she had Etzel’s son carried to the board. (How could a woman ever do a more dreadful thing in pursuance of her

revenge?) Four of Etzel’s followers went immediately and returned bearing the young Prince Ortlieb to the King’s table, where Hagen, too, was seated, owing to whose murderous hate the boy must needs soon die.

Related Characters: Kriemhild, Hagen , Etzel, Ortlieb, Bloedelin
Page Number: 236
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 39 Quotes

“You have repaid me in base coin,” she said, “but Siegfried’s sword I shall have and hold! My fair lover was wearing it when last I saw him, through whom I suffered mortal sorrow at your hands.” She drew it from its sheath -he was powerless to prevent it - and bent her thoughts to robbing him of life. She raised it in both hands - and struck off his head! King Etzel saw this, and great was the grief it gave him.

Related Characters: Kriemhild (speaker), Siegfried, Hagen , Etzel
Page Number: 290
Explanation and Analysis:
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The Nibelungenlied PDF

Etzel Quotes in The Nibelungenlied

The The Nibelungenlied quotes below are all either spoken by Etzel or refer to Etzel. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Idealized and Deviant Womanhood Theme Icon
).
Chapter 21 Quotes

Etzel’s dominion was so widely known that the most fearless warriors that were ever heard of among Christians and heathen alike were always to be found at his court, all having joined him. And always — a thing that will hardly happen again — the Christian life and the heathen existed side by side. But whichever rite a man followed, the King’s magnanimity saw to it that all were amply rewarded.

Related Characters: Etzel
Page Number: 170
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 31 Quotes

Leaving Bloedelin resolved on battle, the Queen went to table with King Etzel and his men. She had laid a deadly plot against their guests.

Kriemhild’s old grief was embedded deep in her heart. Since there was no beginning the fighting in any other way, she had Etzel’s son carried to the board. (How could a woman ever do a more dreadful thing in pursuance of her

revenge?) Four of Etzel’s followers went immediately and returned bearing the young Prince Ortlieb to the King’s table, where Hagen, too, was seated, owing to whose murderous hate the boy must needs soon die.

Related Characters: Kriemhild, Hagen , Etzel, Ortlieb, Bloedelin
Page Number: 236
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 39 Quotes

“You have repaid me in base coin,” she said, “but Siegfried’s sword I shall have and hold! My fair lover was wearing it when last I saw him, through whom I suffered mortal sorrow at your hands.” She drew it from its sheath -he was powerless to prevent it - and bent her thoughts to robbing him of life. She raised it in both hands - and struck off his head! King Etzel saw this, and great was the grief it gave him.

Related Characters: Kriemhild (speaker), Siegfried, Hagen , Etzel
Page Number: 290
Explanation and Analysis: