The main character in each story is extremely arrogant.  Each holds a lot of political power and believe themselves to be indestructible.  Caesar shows an example of his overconfidence  when he says "for always I am Caesar".  Siegfried shows that he is quite sure of his abilities by leading a bear behind him on a horse.

    It is because of their power and confidence that both of them are murdered.  To make matters worse, and more similar, both were murdered by their so called friends who plotted behind their backs to kill them.  Siegfried's death took place on a hunting trip.  Caesar's took place on the Ides of March, right before he accepted the crown as King of Rome. Both Siegfried and Caesar received warnings of their approaching deaths, but they thought themselves to be untouchable and ignored the advice.

    The same literary techniques can be found in the plots of both stories.  Even more alike are the plots themselves.  Both stories contain many examples of betrayal and deceit.
 

    "Bibliography"

1.  Vickers, James E. Cliff Notes on Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.  Cliff Notes Inc.  Lincoln, Nebraska,
        copyright 1980
        A complete summary and critical evaluation.

2.  "How Siegfried was Slain". World Literature, Revised Edition.  Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.
        Austin.  733-739
        A shortened version of the story from the epic The Nibelungenlied.