Why Broomhilda rather than Brunhilda?

Question

Why is Django's wife's name spelt Broomhilda rather than Brunhilda (or Broonhilda)? I have only come across the latter spelling (and variants such as Brunhilde, Brünnhilde or Brynhilde) in the mythological story. I didn't actually notice that Django was pronouncing his wife's name with an M. But I do seem to distinctly remember Dr. Schultz pronouncing her name (in his German accent) more like Brünnhilde.

I see that there's a 1970s newspaper comic strip named Broom-Hilda where the titular character is a witch. The name is therefore a pun on Brunhilda.

So, what gives? Is Tarantino tipping his hat towards the comic? If not, is he suggesting that the German plantation owners spelt her name so? Do the characters in the movie pronounce her name with an M? I don't remember if there's a shot where her name is displayed—perhaps in Greenville, or when the contracts are signed in Candieland.

(I don't believe that it is suggested anywhere that Broomhilda was also taught how to read and write by her mistress. Django only learns to do so midway through the film.)

Answer 1

First of all, she is indeed spelled Broomhilda (with an "M") both in the credits and throughout the movie. I think it's only Schultz who calls her Brunhilda due to his habits. I just understood that as a parody of the original name, emphasizing her status as a slave, since she's supposed to carry a broom when cleaning up behind her masters, something along those lines.

I just thought it has always been her name. But given that her original plantation owners were Germans it may also be that her original name was indeed Brunhilda and the parody name was only developed later by other plantation owners, overseers, or co-slaves.

But it might also have another meaning, given that comic-strip and Tarantino's fondness for the 70s.

Answer 2

Note that the proper spelling is Brünnhilde, so "broom" is not the only change, also the -e to an -a. Tarantino pretty obviously took the spelling from the comic strip, but I see no symbolism there other than the obvious: humiliation of a slave woman who inside was a proud valkyrie, and mocking Southern whites ignorant of the Nibelungenlied, their cultural heritage (Wagner's opera was first performed in 1869, so they would not have known about that). Tarantino mocked the whites' pretensions and facade in other ways, like how Calvin Candie favored French but didn't speak it himself (despite plenty of money and leisure time to learn it).

Answer 3

I think the movie purposely makes many allusions to mid and late 20th century popular culture as well. Broomhilda is not the only character named after a comic strip. Leonardo Di Caprio's character is named Calvin (Calvin and Hobbs) he lives on the Candie-Land (similar to the children's board game) ranch. Django and Broomhilda are supposed to be the ancestors of Shaft according to IMDB. The name Django itself was taken from the hero of a string of spaghetti westerns, which in turn took the name from the famous Gypsy Jazz guitar legend, Django Reinhardt. I'm sure there are many other references as well.