Hartmann von Aue, Iwein

William McDonald (University of Virginia)
Download PDF Add to Bookshelf Report an Error
Iwein

(ca. 1203) is – by scholarly consensus – the second and final Arthurian romance by Hartmann von Aue, and perhaps his final work. Some 25 manuscripts have come down to us, about the same number as the

Tristan

(q. v.) of Gottfried von Strassburg, making

Iwein

one of the most popular texts of the German Middle Ages. Celtic fairy legends nourish its plotline. Shorter by some 2,000 verses than his

Erec

, Hartmann's

Iwein

can profitably

be read alongside its predecessor. Both romances derive in large measure from Chrétien de Troyes; both involve King Arthur and his court, who provide a temporary abode, not the ultimate destination of the hero; both relate the adventures of knightly protagonists who must learn – painfully and with many missteps – moderation, true courtesy, service…

1687 words

Citation: McDonald, William . "Iwein". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 October 2006 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=14000, accessed 19 March 2024.]

14000 Iwein 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

Save this article

If you need to create a new bookshelf to save this article in, please make sure that you are logged in, then go to your 'Account' here

Leave Feedback

The Literary Encyclopedia is a living community of scholars. We welcome comments which will help us improve.