Siegfried

views updated May 21 2018

Siegfried the hero of the first part of the Nibelungenlied. A prince of the Netherlands, Siegfried obtains a hoard of treasure by killing the dragon Fafner; he marries the Burgundian Kriemhild, and helps her brother Gunther to win Brunhild before being killed by Hagen. His Norse equivalent is Sigurd.
Siegfried line the line of defence (named after the hero Siegfried) constructed by the Germans along the western frontier of Germany before the Second World War.

Siegfried

views updated Jun 11 2018

Siegfried In ancient Germanic literature, hero figure who corresponds with Sigurd in Norse mythology, although accounts vary. In the story of Brunhild he is slain, but elsewhere he is generally victorious in his adventures. He plays a major part in the epic tale of the Nibelungenlied and in Wagner's operatic adaptation of that tale, The Ring of the Nibelung.

Siegfried

views updated May 23 2018

Siegfried ★★★★ Siegfrieds Tod; Siegfried's Death 1924

Half of Lang's epic masterpiece “Der Niebelungen,” based on German mythology. Title hero bathes in the bloodofa dragonhe has slain. He marries a princess, but wicked Queen Brumhilde has him killed. Part two, in which Siegfried's widow marries Attila the Hun, is titled “Kriemheld's Revenge.” These dark, brooding, archetypal tours de force were patriotic tributes, and were loved by Hitler. Silent with music score. 100m/B VHS, DVD . GE Paul Richter, Margareta Schoen; D: Fritz Lang.

Siegfried

views updated May 14 2018

Siegfried. Mus. drama in 3 acts by Wagner to his own lib., being 3rd part of Der Ring des Nibelungen. Comp. 1856–7 (early sketches 1851), 1864–71. F.p. Bayreuth 1876, London 1882, NY Met 1887.

Siegfried

views updated May 23 2018

SIEGFRIED

SeeDIE NIBELUNGEN