At the bottom of the River Rhine, the three Rhinemaidens are playing together near the Rheingold. Alberich, a Nibelung dwarf, appears from a deep chasm and tries to woo them. Struck by Alberich's ugliness, the Rhinemaidens mock his advances and he grows angry. As the sun begins to rise, maidens praise the golden glow atop a nearby rock; Alberich asks what it is. The Rhinemaidens tell him about the Rhinegold, which their father has ordered them to guard: it can be made into a magic Ring which will let its bearer rule the world, but only by someone who first renounces love.
During a raging storm, Siegmund seeks shelter at the house of the warrior Hunding. Siegmund tells Sieglinde, Hunding's unhappy wife, that he is fleeing from enemies. Hunding reluctantly offers Siegmund the hospitality demanded by custom. Sieglinde urges him to tell his tale. When Siegmund finishes, Hunding reveals that he is one of Siegmund's pursuers. He grants Siegmund a night's stay, but they are to do battle in the morning. She reveals that she was forced into a marriage with Hunding. During their wedding feast, an old man had appeared and plunged a sword into the trunk of the ash tree in the center of the room, which Hunding and his companions had all failed to remove. She expresses her longing for the hero who could draw the sword and save her. Siegmund expresses his love for her, which she reciprocates. Siegmund easily draws the sword forth, and names the blade "Nothung"; (or needful, for this is the weapon that he needs for his forthcoming fight with Hunding). Wotan, ruler of the Gods, instructs Brünnhilde, his Valkyrie daughter, to protect Siegmund in his coming fight with Hunding.
Mime, Alberich's brother, is plotting to obtain the Ring for himself He has raised Siegfried, Siegmund's son, to kill Fafner, the dragon who guards th ring, for him. He needs a sword for Siegfried to use, but the youth has broken every blade he has made. Siegfried returns from his wanderings in the forest, demanding to know his parentage, and Mime is forced to explain how he took in Siegfried's mother, Sieglinde, who died giving birth. He shows Siegfried the shards of Nothung, and Siegfried orders him to reforge the sword. Siegfried returns and is annoyed by Mime's lack of progress. Mime realizes that the one thing he has not taught Siegfried is fear. Siegfried is eager to learn it, and Mime promises to teach him by bringing him to Fafner the dragon. Since Mime was unable to forge Nothung, Siegfried decides to do it himself. Mime, brews a poisoned drink to offer Siegfried after the youth has defeated the dragon. He then plays a tune on his horn, which brings Fafner out of his cave. After a short exchange, they fight, and Siegfried stabs Fafner in the heart with Nothung. In his last moments, Fafner learns Siegfried's name, and tells him to beware of treachery.
Brünnhilde sends Siegfried off to new adventures, urging him to keep their love in mind. As a pledge of fidelity, Siegfried gives her the ring. Siegfried appears at Gibichung Hall, seeking to meet Gunther. Gunther extends his hospitality to the hero, and Gutrune offers him a love potion to trick him into marriage. Unaware of the deception, Siegfried toasts Brünnhilde and their love. Drinking the potion, he loses his memory of Brünnhilde, and falls in love with Gutrune instead. The Rhinemaidens meanwhile mourn the lost Rheingold. Siegfried happens by while hunting with Gunther and Hagan, Alberich's son. The maidens urge him to return the Ring and avoid its curse, but he ignores their tidings of doom. Suddenly, two ravens fly out of a bush, and as Siegfried watches them, Hagen stabs him in the back with his spear, trying to claim the ring for his own. Brünnhilde appears and orders for a huge funeral pyre to be assembled by the river. She takes the Ring and tells the Rhinemaidens to claim it from her ashes, once fire has cleansed it of its curse. The fire flares up as the Rhine overflows its banks, bearing the Rhinemaidens on its waves. Hagen madly tries to steal the Ring from them and drowns. The Rhinemaidens swim away, bearing the Ring in triumph.
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