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

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

Speaker or Narrator, and Point of View

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

Form and Meter

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.

Metaphors and Similes

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

Alliteration and Assonance

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

Irony

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.

Genre

The poem is a mythological poem.

Setting

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

Tone

The tone used in the poem is a neutral one.

Protagonist and Antagonist

The protagonist is Sigmund and the antagonist is Siggeir.

Major Conflict

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

Climax

The poem reaches its climax when Siggeir is killed.

Foreshadowing

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.

Understatement

N/A

Allusions

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.

Metonymy and Synecdoche

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.

Personification

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

Hyperbole

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

Onomatopoeia

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

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