Selection of Annotated Texts

Abstract

The selection of texts comprises extracts not only from the courtly literature of the Middle High German Classical period such as Erec, the Nibelungenlied, Parzival, Tristan, and the lyrics of Walther von der Vogelweide, but also from religious literature, writings on natural history, chronicles, and legal texts. Verse and prose works from the whole span of the Middle High German period are included. In addition to texts in the normalized Middle High German in which the classical authors are normally read, texts have been chosen to represent all the major dialects of Middle High German. Each text has an introduction placing it in context; texts in a dialectical variety have also linguistic introductions. All texts are accompanied by notes on their grammar, vocabulary, and content, and by recommendations for further reading. Two introductory texts are designed to familiarize readers new to Middle High German with essential features of the language.