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Wolfram von Eschenbach's Criticism of Minnedienst in his Narrative Works

Jolyon Timothy Hughes

This book is a textual analysis of Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival and Titurel, dealing specifically with minnedienst (Love Service—fin amours) and its negative influence on the female characters in the narratives. By scrutinizing the women in Wolfram's works, one can see that there are surprising similarities in female characters and their situations. The author examines the actions of the male characters and follows the often painful repercussions stemming from the never-ending search for honor.

Wolfram states often that love is related to pain. By doing so, he is actively criticizing a literary construct created by Chrétien de Troyes and continued by Hartmann von Aue. The author provides examples of Wolfram's criticism of his predecessors and makes a statement as to the nature of that criticism: that Wolfram was criticizing an element of society through the themes presented in Parzival and Titurel.

It is a widely held opinion of researchers that Wolfram had a positive opinion of women and the institution of marriage. The author maintains that this is true but argues that Wolfram had a negative opinion as to the means whereby love was to be won. Wolfram generally liked and respected women and went to great lengths to portray them positively. It is shown through textual examples that he pitied them and sympathized with their pains brought on by the society that they lived in. It is also hypothesized that Wolfram wrote not for mere entertainment but for the betterment of society and for the advancement of women's roles in a patriarchic society.
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University Press of America
Pages: 126 • Trim: 6 x 9¼
978-0-7618-4497-6 • Paperback • February 2009 • $44.99 • (£35.00)
Subjects: Literary Criticism / European / German, Literary Criticism / Medieval
Jolyon Timothy Hughes, Ph.D., is assistant professor of German at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Wolfram's Criticism of Minnedienst
Chapter 3 Parzival's Continuing Themes
Chapter 4 Wolfram's Romances: Social Criticism versus "Utopisches Wunschbild"
Chapter 5 Wîse Maget
Chapter 6 Sociolinguistics in Wolfram's Parzival
Chapter 7 Wolfram's Foriegn Vernacular
Jolyon Timothy Huges presents an attractive discussion of Wolfram von Eschenbach's attitudes about the role of love and knighthood within the world of the courts.... I full-heartedly agree with his argument that the entire notion of the Grail represents a form of utopia.... Wolfram's familiarity with the Provence seems to be a fascinating and productive thesis that might explain his particular take on the idea of the Grail....Altogether, Hughes' study is pleasant, insightful, and productive....He collects valuable data concerning how many characters die as a result of courtly love and distorted ideals of knighthood, and he also demonstrates the extensive role played by "minor" female figures in the lives of the male protagonists.... Hughes offers solid analysis of those studies cited here.
— German Studies Review


Wolfram von Eschenbach's Criticism of Minnedienst in his Narrative Works

Cover Image
Paperback
Summary
Summary
  • This book is a textual analysis of Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival and Titurel, dealing specifically with minnedienst (Love Service—fin amours) and its negative influence on the female characters in the narratives. By scrutinizing the women in Wolfram's works, one can see that there are surprising similarities in female characters and their situations. The author examines the actions of the male characters and follows the often painful repercussions stemming from the never-ending search for honor.

    Wolfram states often that love is related to pain. By doing so, he is actively criticizing a literary construct created by Chrétien de Troyes and continued by Hartmann von Aue. The author provides examples of Wolfram's criticism of his predecessors and makes a statement as to the nature of that criticism: that Wolfram was criticizing an element of society through the themes presented in Parzival and Titurel.

    It is a widely held opinion of researchers that Wolfram had a positive opinion of women and the institution of marriage. The author maintains that this is true but argues that Wolfram had a negative opinion as to the means whereby love was to be won. Wolfram generally liked and respected women and went to great lengths to portray them positively. It is shown through textual examples that he pitied them and sympathized with their pains brought on by the society that they lived in. It is also hypothesized that Wolfram wrote not for mere entertainment but for the betterment of society and for the advancement of women's roles in a patriarchic society.
Details
Details
  • University Press of America
    Pages: 126 • Trim: 6 x 9¼
    978-0-7618-4497-6 • Paperback • February 2009 • $44.99 • (£35.00)
    Subjects: Literary Criticism / European / German, Literary Criticism / Medieval
Author
Author
  • Jolyon Timothy Hughes, Ph.D., is assistant professor of German at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Chapter 1 Introduction
    Chapter 2 Wolfram's Criticism of Minnedienst
    Chapter 3 Parzival's Continuing Themes
    Chapter 4 Wolfram's Romances: Social Criticism versus "Utopisches Wunschbild"
    Chapter 5 Wîse Maget
    Chapter 6 Sociolinguistics in Wolfram's Parzival
    Chapter 7 Wolfram's Foriegn Vernacular
Reviews
Reviews
  • Jolyon Timothy Huges presents an attractive discussion of Wolfram von Eschenbach's attitudes about the role of love and knighthood within the world of the courts.... I full-heartedly agree with his argument that the entire notion of the Grail represents a form of utopia.... Wolfram's familiarity with the Provence seems to be a fascinating and productive thesis that might explain his particular take on the idea of the Grail....Altogether, Hughes' study is pleasant, insightful, and productive....He collects valuable data concerning how many characters die as a result of courtly love and distorted ideals of knighthood, and he also demonstrates the extensive role played by "minor" female figures in the lives of the male protagonists.... Hughes offers solid analysis of those studies cited here.
    — German Studies Review


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