Arthurian Cosmopoiesis: Wolfram's Parzival

Offering five possible thematic pedagogical approaches to Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival (1200-1210), this article argues that the romance, often overlooked due to its complexity, is a rich and timely medieval work that will capture students' imaginations. We offer a practical guide for using the romance (or selected excerpts) to introduce students to current medieval studies approaches through its treatment of the Global Middle Ages, the medieval racial imagination, and the complexities of gender, and we explain how the social dynamics of Parzival's narrative world-building recommend its inclusion in courses with topics such as medievalism, speculative fiction, and adaptation.

Duke Scholars

Author Ann Marie Rasmussen German Studies