Trivium
Curriculum/The Nibelungenlied/The Nibelungenlied: The Fatal Quarrel
The NibelungenliedGrade 7dialectic Stage

The Nibelungenlied: The Fatal Quarrel

Gunther and Siegfried marry the two queens. But Brunhild, still supernaturally strong, humiliates Gunther on their wedding night. Siegfried invisibly subdues her, taking her ring and girdle. Years later, the queens quarrel; Kriemhild reveals the secret and shows the proof. Brunhild is devastated; Hagen vows revenge.

The Text

What You'll Learn

1

Comprehension

Notes the double wedding of Gunther-Brunhild and Siegfried-Kriemhild

2

Cause & Consequence

Explains why the queens quarreled: pride, status, years of tension over the "vassal" question

3

Meaning

Takes a position on whether Kriemhild was wrong to reveal the secret

4

Evidence

Cites a specific passage (the quarrel, the proof, Hagen's vow)

5

Defense

Maintains or thoughtfully revises their position under challenge

How It Works

Your AI tutor will guide you through this text using the Socratic method. Instead of giving you answers, it asks questions that help you discover the meaning for yourself.

  • 1.Read the text carefully
  • 2.Answer the tutor's questions in your own words
  • 3.Progress through each stage as you demonstrate understanding
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