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What is a connection between Nibelungenlied and The Song of Roland?
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A key connection between the Nibelungenlied and The Song of Roland is the theme of chivalry. In The Song of Roland, Roland's devotion to Charlemagne and his bravery exemplify chivalric values. Similarly, in the Nibelungenlied, characters like Gernot and Siegfried demonstrate chivalrous behavior through their actions, such as preventing conflict and defending allies. Both epics highlight the importance of honor and bravery within the chivalric code.
One theme the two epic poemsThe Song
of Roland and Nibelungenlied, from the Middle Ages,
share in common is chivalry.
In The Song of Roland, the protagonistRoland becomes devoted
to protecting Charlemagne because, from the start, Charlemagne
tested Roland's courage. Roland's mother is Charlemagne's sister,
Princess Bertha, but the family has been treated with disrespect because
Charlemagne considers Roland's father, Milon, as having stolen Charlemagne's
sister from him. After his father is killed by Charlemagne in battle, when
given the opportunity, Roland marches into Charlemagne's banquet hall and
demands provisions for himself and his mother. Charlemagne, happy to have his
sister back, immediately gives them honorable positions at court. Roland in
particular is made a squire. Soon, Roland's bravery as a squire is
tested, and Roland saves Charlemagne's army by posing as the enemy and attacking the enemy from within. Roland is immediately...
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knighted and given the famous sword Durandal and the battle horn of his grandfather. Roland alsovows to always protect
Charlemagne; hence, at another moment when Roland is attacked by a
traitor, Roland decides not to blow the battle horn to summon Charlemagne's
troops for reinforcements because he doesn't want to put Charlemagne in
harm's way. Instead, he sees himself as responsible for fending off
the traitor. Sadly, the mistaken decision costs Roland his life, but
Charlemagne does indeed remain alive. Hence, we see that Roland's story is one
of devoted bravery and captures the theme of
chivalry since acting in bravery is part of the chivalric code.
Similarly, in Nibelungenlied, Gernot behaves
chivalrously when he prevents Gunther and Siegfried from battling each
other. Gernot further acts chivalrously when welcoming Siegfried to Worms with
open arms. Soon, Siegfried is given his own opportunity to
act chivalrously when he fights with his troops as allies to
the Burgundians under Gunther the moment the Burgundians are attacked by King
Liudegast of Denmark and King Liudeger of Saxony.
References