brunnhilde
Definition
Proper noun 1. A Valkyrie in Norse mythology: A divine female figure, one of the Valkyries who choose those who may die in battle and those who may live. 2. A queen in the Nibelungenlied: A central character in the Germanic epic poem, a powerful queen who loves the hero Siegfried.
Usage
- Brunnhilde is a legendary figure from Germanic and Norse mythology and literature.
- The name is used to refer specifically to this character. It is not used as a common noun.
- It is often associated with themes of love, betrayal, vengeance, and supernatural power.
Examples
- In Wagner's opera cycle, is a Valkyrie who defies her father, Wotan.
- The story tells how fell in love with the hero Siegfried.
- In the , feels deceived by Siegfried and plots his death.
Advanced Usage / Notes
- The character's portrayal varies between sources (Norse sagas vs. the German vs. Richard Wagner's operatic cycle ). In Wagner's version, the spelling is typically Brünnhilde.
- She is a quintessential example of a powerful, tragic heroine in epic literature.
Variants and Related Words
- Brünnhilde: The German spelling, most commonly associated with Richard Wagner's operas.
- Brynhildr: The Old Norse form of the name, found in the and other Norse texts.
- Valkyrie: The class of mythological beings to which Brunnhilde belongs in Norse myth.
- Shieldmaiden: A term for a female warrior, often used to describe characters like Brunnhilde.
Synonyms
- Valkyrie (specifically in the Norse mythological context)
- Warrior maiden
- Epic heroine
Related Idioms / Cultural References
- While not a common idiom, the name Brunnhilde is sometimes used metaphorically to describe a woman of formidable strength, willpower, or dramatic passion.
- She charged into the boardroom with the fury of a Brunnhilde.
Noun
-
a Valkyrie or a queen in the Nibelungenlied who loved the hero Siegfried; when he deceived her she had him killed and then committed suicide
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