The Nibelungenlied · Chapter
Adventure XXXVI: How the Queen Bade That the Hall Be Set on Fire explained
After a day-long battle, the Burgundian guests, led by Gunther, Gernot, Giselher, and Hagen, are trapped in a hall and refuse a truce.
What happens
After a day-long battle, the Burgundian guests, led by Gunther, Gernot, Giselher, and Hagen, are trapped in a hall and refuse a truce. Kriemhilda, seeking vengeance for Siegfried's murder, orders the hall set on fire. The warriors endure the flames and quench their thirst with blood, surviving until dawn. Despite offers of gold, the Huns attack again, and the Burgundians fight on.
Themes in this chapter
Revenge and Vengeance
Kriemhilda's relentless pursuit of vengeance against Hagen and the Burgundians drives the chapter, culminating in her order to burn the hall.
Betrayal and Deception
Kriemhilda's earlier invitation to her brothers is revealed as a trap, and she refuses to honor the initial truce.
Loyalty and Friendship
The Burgundian warriors remain steadfast, refusing to surrender Hagen and fighting together despite the flames.
Characters to notice
- Hagen
Boldly guards the hall, advises drinking blood to quench thirst, and remains defiant.
- Kriemhilda
Refuses mercy, orders the hall set on fire, and offers gold to incite the Huns.
- King Gunther
Pleads for a truce, but accepts the fight when denied.
- Giselher
Appeals to his sister Kriemhilda for mercy, but is refused; remains loyal.
- Gernot
Rejects giving Hagen as hostage, preferring death for all.
- Dankwart
Fights fiercely and declares his brother Hagen will not stand alone.
- Volker
Keeps watch with Hagen and taunts the Huns.
- Etzel
Initially considers a truce but is swayed by Kriemhilda; laments the loss of his son and kin.
Key passages
“Now do ye off your helmets,” quoth Hagen, the bold knight, “For I and my companion will guard ye all aright.”
Hagen tells the warriors to remove their helmets, promising that he and Volker will protect them.
Hagen's leadership and confidence in the face of danger.
“Then Giselher, the youngest, said: “Fairest sister mine, Right ill I did to trust you, when from beyond the Rhine Unto this land thou bad’st me into this direful strait.”
Giselher reproaches Kriemhilda for betraying his trust by luring him into a deadly trap.
Giselher's personal appeal highlights the familial betrayal.
“Then Etzel's wife gave bidding to set alight the hall. And so with fire were tortured those warriors’ bodies all.”
Kriemhilda orders the hall to be set on fire, causing the warriors to suffer from the flames.
The climax of Kriemhilda's vengeance, using fire as a weapon.
“Quoth one within the palace: “Needs must we all lie dead! What profits us the greeting that from the king we had? The burning heat so sorely with thirst doth torture me, I trow that in this torment my life will quickly flee.””
A trapped warrior laments that they will all die, and the king's welcome has turned to deadly heat and thirst.
The desperation and physical suffering of the Burgundians.
“Then Hagen spake, of Tronjé: “Ye noble knights and good, Whoe’er by thirst is troubled may quench it here with blood. In heat like this ’tis better than wine of any kind, And at this time, moreover, no better may ye find.””
Hagen advises the thirsty warriors to drink the blood of the fallen to survive the heat.
Hagen's grim pragmatism and the macabre solution to their plight.
