The Story of Sigurd the Volsung and the Fall of the Niblungs Literary Elements

The action is told from the perspective of a third-person objective point of view.

Because this is an ancient poem, it is hard to identify the original form and meter used. However, it is most likely that the poem was written in epic form.

The sword is used the first book as a metaphor to represent superiority and strength.

We have an alliteration in the line "Earls were the wrights that wrought it, and silver nailed its doors;".

One of the most ironic elements is the idea that even though Siggeir did not manage to take the sword out of the tree, he still had enough power to kill Sigmund's family and to cause a lot of pain and trouble in the long run.

The poem is a mythological poem.

The action in the poem takes place at Sigmund's court.

The tone used in the poem is a neutral one.

The protagonist is Sigmund and the antagonist is Siggeir.

The major conflict is a political one and is the result of Siggeir's desire to be the most powerful one.

The poem reaches its climax when Siggeir is killed.

Sigmund's unwillingness to give up revenge is foreshadowed at the beginning of the poem when the narrator harshly criticizes those who refuse to fight until the very end, even if it means losing their own lives.

N/A

One of the main allusions in the poem is the idea that the problems which happen on earth and the problems many men and women have to face are caused by the Gods who want to amuse themselves.

Gold is used in this poem as a general term to make reference to the power and influence a person gains with a lot of wealth.

We have a personification in the line "a mighty tree".

We have a hyperbole in the line "As a rose in the winter season, a candle in the dark;".

We have an onomatopoeia in the line "And the masters of its song-craft were the mightiest men that cast".