Morgan Le Fay in Middle High German Arthurian Literature
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15291/csi.4800Keywords:
Arthurian romances, magic, medicine, Middle High German literature, Morgan Le Fay, pagan elementsAbstract
The topic of this paper is the exploration of the character of Morgan Le Fay in 12th-century Middle High German literature, with a focus on the continuity and function of previously unexplored pagan elements – such as the Apollonian cult or the tripartite goddess – in her portrayal, along with the associated magic, rituals, medicine, and relationships among the protagonists. The theoretical framework examines various interpretations of Morgan’s character in medieval and earlier literature, including the development and changes in her characterization across different cultural traditions and genres. The aim of the research is to analyse specific 12thcentury literary works and investigate how Middle High German authors Hartmann von Aue (Erec and Iwein) and Ulrich von Zatzikhoven (Lanzelet) portrayed Morgan’s character in light of their sources, analogies, and contemporary context, rather than viewing her portrayals in these texts merely as archetypes. The corpus of the paper consists of Middle High German Arthurian romances in which Morgan is explicitly mentioned or where elements suggest that the character in question is Morgan. The methodology involves comparative interpretation, source identification, and an analysis of irony in the portrayals of Morgan, with the goal of determining the specific functions of her character in each work. This research demonstrates the diversity of Morgan’s characterizations and their influence on the development of Middle High German Arthurian literature, as well as the reverse influence: the impact of Middle High German Arthurian literature on the diversity of Morgan’s characterization.
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References
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