German narrative literature of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries

This collection features a range of scholarly essays exploring various aspects of medieval literature and its cultural contexts. Contributors examine topics such as the relationship between court literature and its audience, the hermeneutics of medieval romance, and the significance of martial imagery in historical texts. The essays delve into narrative complexities, including the portrayal of Adam's descendants in early German Genesis poems and the journeys of apostles in sermon literature. Other discussions focus on the evolution of vernacular storytelling, the concept of empire in Konrad’s Rolandslied, and thematic analyses of the Nibelungenlied, particularly regarding the fates of its characters. The works of Hartmann von Aue are scrutinized for their treatment of shame and self-criticism, while the unnamed heroine in his narratives prompts further inquiry. Additional essays explore the reception of medieval themes in modern contexts, the symbolic significance of the Fisher King in Parzival, and the poetics of love in Gottfried’s Tristan. The collection concludes with examinations of adventure narratives and the construction of noble identity in medieval texts. Each contribution enriches our understanding of the intricate interplay between literature, society, and identity in the medieval period.