Editing Brunhild (section)

=== Wooing ===

There is considerable debate about whether the ride through the wall of flames attested in the Norse tradition or the feats of strength attested in the continental tradition represents the older version of the wooing of Brunhild. Although the ride through the flames is only attested in Scandinavia, a somewhat similar scene occurs in ''[[Das Lied vom Hürnen Seyfrid]]'' when Siegfried rescues Kriemhild.{{sfn|Gentry|McConnell|Müller|Wunderlich|2011|p=169}} The feats of strength that Brunhild's suitors must complete in the ''Nibelungenlied'', on the other hand, are paralleled in a Russian fairy tale that also contains a very similar scene in which the bride ties her new husband by his hands and feet on her wedding night.{{sfn|Millet|2008|p=197}} These parallels have led some scholars to argue that the feats of strength are not original to the tradition.{{sfn|Gillespie|1973|p=16}} Others have argued that the Russian fairy tale may derive from the ''Nibelungenlied''.{{sfn|Uecker|1972|p=36}}

Common to all versions of the wooing is that Sigurd takes Gunther's place in the marriage bed in one way or another using deception and strength, which later provides part of Brunhild's motivation to have him killed.{{sfn|Uecker|1972|p=36}}{{sfn|Haymes|Samples|1996|p=146}}