How They All Went to Their Homes explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Family and Kinship

  Gudrun's farewell to her mother and brother, and the promise to visit yearly, emphasize the enduring bonds of family.

• Hospitality and Generosity

  Queen Hilda's lavish parting gifts to Herwic's followers highlight the theme of generosity.

• Honor and Reputation

  Ortwin and Herwic swear to rule with right and honor and to defend each other, underscoring the importance of honor.

Characters to notice

• Gudrun

  Bids farewell to her mother Hilda and brother Ortwin, then departs with Herwic for his home.

• Hilda

  Queen Hilda gives generous parting gifts and asks Gudrun to visit yearly.

• Ortwin

  Bids farewell to Gudrun and swears eternal friendship with Herwic.

• Herwic

  Returns home with Gudrun and swears friendship with Ortwin.

• Ortrun

  Betrothed to Ortwin, thanks Gudrun for sparing Hartmut and thanks Hilda for allowing her to marry Ortwin.

• Siegfried

  King of Moorland, goes home taking his bride, Herwic's sister.

Key passages

• “Gudrun then spake to her mother: "May blessings on you be! Mourn not for the fallen; by both my lord and me Shall love to you be given: no more you need be feeling Heaviness or sorrow; your woes shall Herwic's kindness now be healing."”

  Gudrun comforts her mother Hilda, promising that she and Herwic will show her love and that Herwic's kindness will ease her sorrow.

  Gudrun reassures her mother after the losses of war.

• “Ortwin then and Herwic each to the other swore, With strong and steady friendship, that they forevermore Would sway with right and honor the lands to them belonging, And ever would be earnest to seize and slay whoe'er was either wronging.”

  Ortwin and Herwic swore a lasting friendship, promising to rule their lands justly and to punish anyone who wronged the other.

  The two kings formalize their alliance with an oath.