Murder in Medieval German Literature: Disruptions and Challenges of Society—Crime and Self-Determination in the Pre-modern World
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Author
Classen, AlbrechtAffiliation
Univ Arizona, Dept German StudiesIssue Date
2019-11-19Keywords
Herzog ErnstNibelungenlied
Heinrich Kaufringer
Elisabeth von Nassau-Saarbrucken
Murder
Assassination
Self-defense
Revenge
Rape
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SPRINGERCitation
Classen, A. Murder in Medieval German Literature: Disruptions and Challenges of Society—Crime and Self-Determination in the Pre-modern World. Neophilologus 104, 97–117 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11061-019-09629-2Journal
NEOPHILOLOGUSRights
© Springer Nature B.V. 2019.Collection Information
This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu.Abstract
Medieval literature is filled with references to criminal acts, to evil characters, and so also to murder. This paper examines the complex of killing as depicted in four medieval texts, Herzog Ernst, the Nibelungenlied, Heinrich Kaufringer's "Die unschuldige Morderin," and Elisabeth von Nassau-Saarbrucken's Konigin Sibille, attempting to discriminate between manslaughter, assassination, and murder. In each case, the act of murder is rationalized and explained through a different lens, depending on the literary context. As the analysis demonstrates, already pre-modern writers were fully aware of the rich discourse on law, for which murder constituted the most egregious case. Not every murder, however, is simply condemned because at times the perpetrator seeks justified revenge, at other times the killing is condoned, if not even approved, by the king himself in order to preserve the honor of the court. Kaufringer even goes so far as to present a case where multiple murders are explained as a form of self-defense according to God's laws, whereas Elisabeth simplifies and vilifies the killing to an extreme once again.Note
12 month embargo; published online: 19 November 2019ISSN
0028-2677EISSN
1572-8668Version
Final accepted manuscriptae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1007/s11061-019-09629-2