The term 'classic' is not a neutral classification but amounts to a kind of distinction. Qualities that give a text its place in the canon include timeless value, a reception history spanning several generations, and wide contemporary availability. All the works discussed here are classics in this sense: the songs of Walther von der Vogelweide, Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival and the Nibelungenlied remain very readable even after 800 years. Key works of mediaeval literature are introduced in ten essays with discussion of the central questions of how a canon is formed: what makes an author, work or even a subject a classic? What are the decisive criteria for the evaluation of a literary text? Which aesthetic concepts underlie the granting of canonical status? This volume is primarily aimed at students and other readers interested at gaining insights into the fascinating world of mediaeval literature. "Generally, Toepfer's volume is very well-written and well-argued, from the introduction through the final chapter () I recommend this volume as a resource for clear and logical arguments for constructing a curriculum at the university level. Finally, it is of highest importance for all who teach and advocate for medieval studies at our universities, and who have the power to affect curricular decsions, to equip themselves with such information and arguments as provided by this volume, in order to lend their support to an extremely significant aspect of what our students learn." (Christopher R. Clason, Monatshefte, Voll. 114, No. 1, 2022)

Klappentext

Die Bezeichnung ,Klassiker' ist keine neutrale Charakterisierung, sondern kommt einer Ehrung gleich. Für den kanonischen Anspruch eines literarischen Textes sprechen seine zeitlose Gültigkeit, seine mehrere Generationen umfassende Rezeptionsgeschichte und seine breite zeitgenössische Überlieferung. Alle Werke, die in diesem Band behandelt werden, sind in diesem Sinne Klassiker: Die Lieder Walthers von der Vogelweide, der ,Parzival' Wolframs von Eschenbach und das ,Nibelungenlied' sind auch nach 800 Jahren höchst lesenswert.

In zehn Beiträgen werden Hauptwerke der mittelalterlichen Literatur vorgestellt und zentrale Fragen der Kanonbildung diskutiert: Was macht ein Werk, einen Autor oder vielleicht gar einen Stoff zum Klassiker? Welche Kriterien sind entscheidend für die Bewertung eines literarischen Texts? Welche ästhetischen Konzepte liegen der Kanonisierung zugrunde? Der Band richtet sich dezidiert auch an Studierende und andere Interessierte, die Einblicke in die faszinierende literarische Welt des Mittelalters gewinnen möchten.****The term 'classic' is not a neutral classification but amounts to a kind of distinction. Qualities that give a text its place in the canon include timeless value, a reception history spanning several generations, and wide contemporary availability. All the works discussed here are classics in this sense: the songs of Walther von der Vogelweide, Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival and the Nibelungenlied remain very readable even after 800 years.
Key works of mediaeval literature are introduced in ten essays with discussion of the central questions of how a canon is formed: what makes an author, work or even a subject a classic? What are the decisive criteria for the evaluation of a literary text? Which aesthetic concepts underlie the granting of canonical status? This volume is primarily aimed at students and other readers interested at gaining insights into the fascinating world of mediaeval literature.