'Ring of the Niblung' Summary

The Ring Cycle begins with *Das Rheingold*, where the dwarf Alberich steals the Rhinegold, a source of immense power. This act sets in motion a chain of events that ultimately leads to the destruction of the gods. In *Die Walküre*, the warrior-maiden Brunnhilde falls in love with the mortal hero Siegfried. Their love is forbidden, and Brunnhilde is punished by her father, Wotan, the king of the gods. In *Siegfried*, the hero, armed with the magical sword Nothung, sets out to slay the dragon Fafner, who guards the Ring. In *Götterdämmerung*, Siegfried's love for Brunnhilde is tested, and the gods face their ultimate downfall. The cycle ends with the destruction of Valhalla, the home of the gods, and the return of the Rhinegold to the river from which it was stolen, symbolizing the cyclical nature of power and the inevitability of fate.