What are the motifs in Nibelungenlied ?

Deception is a recurring idea. The Nibelungenlied is as much a story of political and social disintegration as it is about heroes and revenge. By the end of the story, the Burgundian rulers are all dead, and many of Etzel's own vassals have been killed as well. Essentially, two kingdoms have been destroyed. The roots of this disintegration are a series of deceptions in which many characters participate. The theme of deception is problematic, since some of the instances of deception can also be seen as examples of courage, bravery, or skill.