Arnold of Winkelried, the Hero of Sempach

A collection of dramatic sketches traces the life and legends surrounding a celebrated medieval hero, moving through mountain lore, miraculous origin tales of a high lake, and chronicle-like accounts of local clashes and a famous battle. Episodes dramatize a mystery play, the devastation of plague, the menace of robber knights, a tournament, siegecraft, and a daring episode in which the central figure infiltrates as a beggar monk. The narrative culminates in a vivid account of the hero’s self-sacrifice in battle, when he forces a passage through a rank of spears to secure victory for his comrades.