Wolfram von Eschenbach, Songs

Marion E. Gibbs
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In his lyric poems (“Songs”), Wolfram von Eschenbach shows his originality as in his narrative works. In the poems, too, he uses existing material and conventions but transcends both, to produce a small but fascinating corpus which contributes the final piece to one of the most important figures in medieval literature. It is not surprising that Wolfram, so very much a part of the literary scene in Germany at the beginning of the thirteenth century, should have ventured into the field of the

Minnesang

(courtly love poetry), nor that he should seem to be throwing over its conventions even as he exploits them. The very idea of courtly love, of service given and received within accompanying conditions and constraints, is in complete contrast to the relationships of deep commitment that he…

2662 words

Citation: Gibbs, Marion E.. "Songs". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 15 January 2004 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=14573, accessed 28 March 2024.]

14573 Songs 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.

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