GUDRUN, goo-droon', a Middle High Ger man folk epic composed by an unknown poet in Bavaria or Austria about 1210. It is a com panion piece to the (Nibelungenlied,' of which it is an evident imitation, as is shown, among other things, by the form of the strophe, which is only a variant of the Nihelungen strophe, having five accents in the last half of the fourth line instead of four. Just as the (Ni belungenlied> has been called a German Iliad, so the (Gudrun' may be considered a German Odyssey, not only because of its happy ending, but because of the many combats and adven tures on the sea and adjacent shores. In this respect the poem occupies a unique position in German literature. In marked contrast to English, German poetry has rarely concerned itself with the sea. The
however, reflects the desperate battles of early Teutonic times between the Vikings and the Danes along the shores and islands of the North Sea. Like the
the
fried learns this, he attacks Herwig's land. Hetel and Herwig set sail to defend it. While they are absent, Hartmut and his father de scend on Hetel's land and abduct Gudrun and her maidens. Called home by messengers, Hetel and Herwig pursue and overtake the abductors upon an island where they are rest ing. A fierce battle ensues in which Hetet falls by Ludwig's sword. The Ndritulns escape in the darkness with Gudrun; and when she refuses to marry Hartmut, she is treated with great cruelty by his mother Gerlind and is made to perform the most menial tasks. For 13 years she endures this life, sustained by her love for Herwig. One morning when wash ing clothes on the seashore, barefoot in the snow, she and the faithful Hildeburg see a bark approaching, bearing two men. These prove to be Gudrun's brother Ortwin and her lover Herwig. After a touching reconciliation the young men depart and next morning at tack Hartmut's castle. In the battle that fol lows Ludwig is killed by Herwig, Hartmut and 80 knights are taken prisoners, and all others are slain. Wate forces an entrance to the castle and kills even the children in the cradle that they may not live to grow up to harm them. He beheads Gerund with his sword, but spares the life of Hartmut's sister Ortrun, who had been kind to Gudrun. Their mission ac complished, the warriors return to Hegelingen, where Gudrun is joyfully received by Hilde. The old feud is peacefully settled by the marriage of Ortwin to Ortun and of Hartmut to Hildeburg. Siegfried marries Herwig's sister and lierwig is happily united to Gudrun.
The Gudrun is to-day ranked next to the