Seminar in Medieval Culture

3 units

The Middle High German era from 1150 to 1350 produced the first great literary works in the German language. The syllabus will be organized around what may well be the key concept of the period, minne. Minne predominately refers to courtly love, a class-specific set of erotic practices or attitudes--even an ethical system--that characterize the courts of medieval Germany and Europe. Far less research, however, has been conducted on the equally powerful legal and theological meanings of minne as conflict resolution by means of reconciliation. Our seminar will inquire whether classic German texts such as Hartmann's Iwein, Walther's lyrics, or the Nibelungenlied (as a negative exemplum) deploy the multiple meanings of minne to argue for a more peaceful society based on love rather than warfare and vengeance. Since most courtly love literature assumes or creates heterosexual norms, gender relations will be a theoretical and thematic aspect of our thinking. Why would heterosexual love serve well as the allegory for peace? We will consider non-literary texts in prose such as sermons, chronicles, and legal compilations; plus some late medieval selections, especially from the Minnereden. The historical and legal research on medieval conflict resolution by Gerd Althoff, Stephen D. White, William Ian Miller, and Fredric L. Cheyette and others will constitute the interdisciplinary context of our reading and discussion. Readings in MHG as far as possible but translations will also be available.