Why did they
write poetry in those days? -- Because they were taught to at
school!
Minne, diu der werlde ir
fröide mêret ...
Minnesang (GERM
2510 / 3510)
Aims: To study the tradition of medieval German lyric
poetry, concentrating on the ‘Blütezeit’. By the end
of the module, members will be familiar with the various genres
of Minnesang, the principal named poets of the period, and
will have had practice in translating a selection of Minnelieder.
Background: Minnesang celebrates the ideals of
‘courtesy’ and Frauendienst – the devoted
service 
of a Knight/Poet for his Lady, having no
desire for tangible rewards, content that the benefit of his
service will be spiritual: swer guotes wîbes minne hât, der
schamt sich aller missetât. That high ideal did not always
prevail, of course, nor does the term ‘Minnesang’ imply
solely the love-lyrics of the period: it is sometimes used in a
general sense (as in the anthology Des Minnesangs Frühling)
to cover all the period’s shorter verse forms – both Lied
and Spruch – and we shall be taking it in this wider
sense. (NB: Walther von der Vogelweide is not included here
because of the separate Walther module.)
Form and timing of assessment: For L2 (term abroad), an
assessed essay of 2,000 words to be submitted by the first day of
the Semester 2 exams period. For all others it will be by a
2-hour written examination at the end of the semester.
Prescribed texts:
Minnesang. Mittelhochdeutsche Texte und Übertragungen
Hrsg. Helmut Brackert (Frankfurt a.M.: Fischer, 1993 or
more recent; referred to below as B) – this
paperback parallels the edition of Walther's poetry by
Wapnewski used in the L2 MHG Literature module.Frauenlieder
des Mittelalters Hrsg. Ingrid Kasten (Stuttgart:
Reclam, 1990 or more recent; referred to below as K)
– as its name indicates, this selection concentrates
on Frauenlieder; there is a certain amount of
overlap with Brackert, naturally, so it also offers some
alternative translations.
Recommended:
Des Minnesangs Frühling, Hrsg. H.Moser und
H.Tervooren, 38th edition or more recent, vol.1
(Stuttgart: S.Hirzel, 1988) – this is the classic
edition of early Minnesang (referred to in the secondary
literature as MF).
For a link to the Manessische
Handschrift -- the most important manuscript of
medieval German poetry.
For other illuminated
manuscripts in Heidelberg.
For the weekly programme.
For advice on writing essays
For the Introduction
to Ingrid Kasten, Frauenlieder des Mittelalters (in
translation)
For a commentary on 'secret' and 'hidden' love:
tougen minne.
For Two
Notes, and two Commentaries on Walther's under der linden
For a commentary on Neidhart von Reuental's
poem: ein altiu diu begunde springen.
For L. P. Johnson's essay: 'Down with hohe Minne!'
For the 1998-9 exam paper.
For the 2000-01 exam paper
Module Tutor: Dr Richard Byrn. E-mail: address
Last updated: 24/01/02
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Minne ist
zweier herzen wünne,
teilent si gelîche, sôst diu minne dâ