Name: Parzival
Price: 22.44 EUR
Availability: InStock
Author: Wolfram von Eschenbach
ISBN: 9781420966350

Type

Physical Book

Author

Wolfram von Eschenbach

Publisher

Digireads.Com Publishing

Year

2020

Language

English

Pages

438

Format

Paperback

ISBN13

9781420966350

Synopsis "Parzival "

German poet Wolfram von Eschenbach’s romance story “Parzival” tells the whirlwind tale of a young man’s life as a knight in search for the Holy Grail. It follows the medieval heroic story of Parzival as he tries to balance his desire for love with his quest for the Grail. At first, Parzival is childish and ignorant, and his bad choices prohibit him from obtaining the Grail. Only through purging his soul through a number of trials and hardships is Parzival sanctified enough to be chosen by the Grail. An interesting choice by von Eschenbach in retelling this legend is to not portray the Holy Grail as a cup, as typified by the classic English versions of the Arthurian legends. In his version, the Grail is not even associated with the Christian concept of the chalice of Christ. Rather, the Holy Grail is a life-giving stone that provides food and eternal life to the men and women who live in the castle that protects the Grail. The story is also a close look into the life and culture of the folk traditions that pervaded the time. Wolfram von Eschenbach includes such common events as tournaments and jousts, which add to the realistic properties of the text. He also made a conscious choice with the type of “romance” that the poem uses; von Eschenbach stays true to the courtship and kinship rules of medieval romances, making this work a window into the societal rules that governed the behavior of knights, their relationships, and their pursuit of courtly love. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Wolfram von Eschenbach

(Author)

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Wolfram von Eschenbach (c. 1170 – c. 1220) was a 13th-century German poet and knight, considered one of the most prominent figures in medieval Germanic literature. Although few details of his life are known, it is believed he was born in the Franconia region, in present-day Bavaria, and served at various courts, including that of Landgrave Hermann I of Thuringia. His work is characterized by deep spirituality and a critical view of scholarly knowledge, distinguishing him from other authors of his time.

His most recognized work is Parzival (c. 1200–1210), an epic that reinterprets the legend of the Holy Grail and has influenced subsequent works, such as Richard Wagner's opera Parsifal. He also wrote Willehalm, an unfinished poem based on the French chansons de geste, and Titurel, a lyrical fragment that expands the universe of Parzival. He also composed nine lyrical songs, notably his Tagelieder (dawn songs), which are considered masterpieces of German Minnesang. His legacy has endured through numerous manuscripts and adaptations, solidifying him as a central figure in European literary tradition.

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