Alberich plays a prominent role in the Nibelungenlied, where he is the guardian of the Nibelung's treasure and has the strength of twelve men. Siegfried overpowers him using his cloak of invisibility (Tarnkappe), after which the dwarf serves the hero. Siegfried later pulls his beard in mock combat when he arrives unannounced to claim the treasure.[2] Siegfried seeks to woo the daughter of the heathen king Machorel, Alberich reveals his paternity to Ortnit and aids him in his quest, playing tricks on the heathen king and even impersonating Mohammed. When Ortnit sets out on his final fatal adventure against a plague of dragons, Alberich takes back the magic ring and warns Ortnit not to go on his quest.[2]
In the Thidrekssaga, Alfrikr makes the swords Eckisax and Nagelringr, giving this last sword to Thidrek.[1]
References to Alberich outside of heroic poetry are rare.[1]
Wagner
In Wagner's opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen, Alberich is the chief of the Nibelungen race of dwarves and the main antagonist driving events. In Das Rheingold, the first opera in the cycle, he gains the power to forge the ring after renouncing love and stealing the gold of the river Rhein, of which the ring is made. His brother, the smith Mime, creates the Tarnhelm for Alberich. News of the gold robbery and ring of power incites gods and giants alike to action. The giants Fafner and Fasolt demand the ring in payment for building Valhalla, and carry off Freia as a hostage. In Götterdämmerung (the fourth opera in Wagner's cycle), Hagen, the murderer of the hero Siegfried, is the half-human half-dwarf son of Alberich by Grimhilde, a human woman. This detail of Hagen's origin is Wagner's invention, not taken from the myth or epic poems, in which Hagen is an ordinary human being with human parents.
Wagner's Alberich is a composite character, mostly based on Alberich from the Nibelungenlied, but also on Andvari from Norse mythology. He has been widely described, most notably by Theodor Adorno, as a negativeJewish stereotype, with his race expressed through "distorted" music and "muttering" speech;[3][4][5] other critics, however, disagree with this assessment.[6]
Alberich shows up in Rheingold, not in Walküre, then again in Siegfried, and finally in Götterdämmerung (while Hagen is sleeping, commanding Hagen to regain the Ring). At the end of the opera, Alberich along with the three Rhine maidens are the only key characters in Der Ring des Nibelungen that remain alive. Wotan seems to die at the end of Götterdämmerung when Valhalla goes up in flames, Fasfolt from Rheingold dies in Rheingold, Siegelinde and Sigmund from Walküre die in Walküre (Siegelinde is at least dead by the time Siegfried begins, some 15–20 years later), Mime (from Rheingold and Siegfried) dies in Siegfried, Gunther and Hagen from Götterdämmerung both die at the end of it, and Siegfried (from Siegfried and Götterdämmerung) and Brunhilde (from Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung) both die in Götterdämmerung.[citation needed]
Legacy
In World War I, the German retreat to fortified positions in the Hindenburg Line, which was officially named after Siegfried despite its common name, was named Operation Alberich.[7]
During WWII, Germany developed anechoic tiles, which were nicknamed Alberich.
See also
Oberon (the French translation of Alberich used for the name of the "King of Fairies" in French and English texts)
^Schausten, Monika (2003). ""Only Germany raises real men for the world": Richard Wagner's Ring des Nibelungen, Nation, and the Third Reich". In Kosta, Barbara (ed.). Writing against boundaries: nationality, ethnicity and gender in the German-speaking context. Rodopi. pp. 9–27.
^Rose, Paul (1996). Wagner: Race and Revolution. Yale University Press. pp. 69–70.
^Weiner, Mark (1997). Richard Wagner and the Anti-Semitic Imagination. University of Nebraska Press. pp. 135–143.
^See e.g. Cooke, Deryck. I Saw the World End: A study of Wagner's Ring. Oxford University Press. p. 264.
^Hayes, Geoffrey; Iarocci, Andrew; Bechthold, Mike (2007-03-23). Vimy Ridge: A Canadian Reassessment. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press. p. 10. ISBN9781554580958.
Gillespie, George T. (1973). Catalogue of Persons Named in German Heroic Literature, 700-1600: Including Named Animals and Objects and Ethnic Names. Oxford: Oxford University. ISBN9780198157182.
Guerber, Helene A. 1895. Myths of Northern Lands - Index. , . File retrieved 7/15/2007.
January 06, 2023
alberich, german, heroic, legend, german, ˈalbəʁɪç, dwarf, features, most, prominently, poems, nibelungenlied, ortnit, also, features, norse, collection, german, legends, called, thidreksaga, under, name, alfrikr, name, means, ruler, supernatural, beings, elve. In German heroic legend Alberich German ˈalbeʁɪc is a dwarf He features most prominently in the poems Nibelungenlied and Ortnit He also features in the Old Norse collection of German legends called the Thidreksaga under the name Alfrikr His name means ruler of supernatural beings elves and is equivalent to Old French Auberon English Oberon 1 The name was later used for a character in Richard Wagner s opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen Contents 1 Mythology 2 Wagner 3 Legacy 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesMythology EditAlberich plays a prominent role in the Nibelungenlied where he is the guardian of the Nibelung s treasure and has the strength of twelve men Siegfried overpowers him using his cloak of invisibility Tarnkappe after which the dwarf serves the hero Siegfried later pulls his beard in mock combat when he arrives unannounced to claim the treasure 2 Siegfried seeks to woo the daughter of the heathen king Machorel Alberich reveals his paternity to Ortnit and aids him in his quest playing tricks on the heathen king and even impersonating Mohammed When Ortnit sets out on his final fatal adventure against a plague of dragons Alberich takes back the magic ring and warns Ortnit not to go on his quest 2 In the Thidrekssaga Alfrikr makes the swords Eckisax and Nagelringr giving this last sword to Thidrek 1 References to Alberich outside of heroic poetry are rare 1 Wagner EditIn Wagner s opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen Alberich is the chief of the Nibelungen race of dwarves and the main antagonist driving events In Das Rheingold the first opera in the cycle he gains the power to forge the ring after renouncing love and stealing the gold of the river Rhein of which the ring is made His brother the smith Mime creates the Tarnhelm for Alberich News of the gold robbery and ring of power incites gods and giants alike to action The giants Fafner and Fasolt demand the ring in payment for building Valhalla and carry off Freia as a hostage In Gotterdammerung the fourth opera in Wagner s cycle Hagen the murderer of the hero Siegfried is the half human half dwarf son of Alberich by Grimhilde a human woman This detail of Hagen s origin is Wagner s invention not taken from the myth or epic poems in which Hagen is an ordinary human being with human parents Wagner s Alberich is a composite character mostly based on Alberich from the Nibelungenlied but also on Andvari from Norse mythology He has been widely described most notably by Theodor Adorno as a negative Jewish stereotype with his race expressed through distorted music and muttering speech 3 4 5 other critics however disagree with this assessment 6 Alberich shows up in Rheingold not in Walkure then again in Siegfried and finally in Gotterdammerung while Hagen is sleeping commanding Hagen to regain the Ring At the end of the opera Alberich along with the three Rhine maidens are the only key characters in Der Ring des Nibelungen that remain alive Wotan seems to die at the end of Gotterdammerung when Valhalla goes up in flames Fasfolt from Rheingold dies in Rheingold Siegelinde and Sigmund from Walkure die in Walkure Siegelinde is at least dead by the time Siegfried begins some 15 20 years later Mime from Rheingold and Siegfried dies in Siegfried Gunther and Hagen from Gotterdammerung both die at the end of it and Siegfried from Siegfried and Gotterdammerung and Brunhilde from Walkure Siegfried and Gotterdammerung both die in Gotterdammerung citation needed Legacy EditIn World War I the German retreat to fortified positions in the Hindenburg Line which was officially named after Siegfried despite its common name was named Operation Alberich 7 During WWII Germany developed anechoic tiles which were nicknamed Alberich See also EditOberon the French translation of Alberich used for the name of the King of Fairies in French and English texts Elegast Elbegast Alegast elf guest elf spirit Dutch German and Scandinavian texts respectively Notes Edit a b c Gillespie 1973 p 4 a b Gillespie 1973 p 3 Schausten Monika 2003 Only Germany raises real men for the world Richard Wagner s Ring des Nibelungen Nation and the Third Reich In Kosta Barbara ed Writing against boundaries nationality ethnicity and gender in the German speaking context Rodopi pp 9 27 Rose Paul 1996 Wagner Race and Revolution Yale University Press pp 69 70 Weiner Mark 1997 Richard Wagner and the Anti Semitic Imagination University of Nebraska Press pp 135 143 See e g Cooke Deryck I Saw the World End A study of Wagner sRing Oxford University Press p 264 Hayes Geoffrey Iarocci Andrew Bechthold Mike 2007 03 23 Vimy Ridge A Canadian Reassessment Wilfrid Laurier Univ Press p 10 ISBN 9781554580958 References EditBulfinch Thomas 1834 Bulfinch s Mythology Reprinted by New York Harper amp Row 1970 p 354 356 903 ISBN 0 690 57260 3 Gillespie George T 1973 Catalogue of Persons Named in German Heroic Literature 700 1600 Including Named Animals and Objects and Ethnic Names Oxford Oxford University ISBN 9780198157182 Guerber Helene A 1895 Myths of Northern Lands Index p 218 p 295 index File retrieved 7 15 2007 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alberich amp oldid 1127486725, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
