Essay Questions

How does Brunhild convince King Gunther to kill Siegfried?

Siegfried is a hero in the kingdom and a friend to King Gunther as he helped him to win the hand of Brunhild by defeating her in the challenges she set out for marriage. He is completely loyal to him. But, he betrays Siegfried when his new wife tells him that Siegfried took her maidenhood from her on their wedding night. She tells him this after discovering that Siegfried deceived her to win her hand in marriage and sets out to get her revenge on the King.

How does Siegfried gain invincibility and the ability to transform into the King?

Along his journey to gain Kriemhild's hand in marriage, Siegfried kills a fire-breathing dragon and by bathing in its blood he gains invincibility, but a leaf falls on his back when he is washing in the blood and covers a single area that is left vulnerable to sword and spear. Siegfried gains the ability to transform into the King and become invisible by defeating the Dwarf King who gives him an invisibility mask that also allows him to transform into anyone he pleases.

What is the symbolism in opening sequence with Mime the blacksmith?

Siegfried is an apprentice under Mime, a master blacksmith. The opening of the film shows Siegfried wielding a sword with master craftsmanship. Mime uses this sword to cut a feather in half, and when he does he deems that Siegfried has learned everything he can from him and sets him free. This is significant because it shows us that Siegfried has earned his ability to be a masterful craftsman with a sword, and with his earned ability he can know set forth into the world to do great things.