Richard Wagner's Poems

Richard Wagner's Poems: The Ring of the Nibelung (1888) is a collection of four epic poems written by the renowned German composer Richard Wagner. The poems, which were originally written as the libretti for Wagner's famous cycle of operas, tell the story of a magical ring that grants its bearer immense power and the struggle for its possession among gods, humans, and mythical creatures.The first poem, Das Rheingold (The Rhine Gold), introduces the characters and sets the stage for the story. It tells of how the Rhine maidens guard the magical gold that can be forged into the ring, which is coveted by the god Wotan and the dwarf Alberich.The second poem, Die Walk re (The Valkyrie), follows the story of Siegmund and Sieglinde, twin siblings who fall in love and are pursued by Wotan and his wife Fricka. The Valkyrie Br nnhilde, who is Wotan's daughter, becomes involved in their fate.The third poem, Siegfried, tells the story of the titular hero who sets out to slay the dragon Fafner and claim the ring. He falls in love with Br nnhilde and awakens her from a magic sleep.The final poem, G tterd mmerung (Twilight of the Gods), depicts the catastrophic end of the world as the ring falls into the hands of the villainous Hagen and is ultimately destroyed in a fiery conflagration.Wagner's poems are renowned for their grandeur, complexity, and symbolism, and have inspired countless adaptations and interpretations in literature, music, and film. This edition features the original German text alongside an English translation by Margaret Armour. It is a must-read for fans of Wagner's music and anyone interested in epic poetry and mythology.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.