Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.15291/csi.4800
Morgan Le Fay in Middle High German Arthurian Literature
Zaneta Vidas Sambunjak
orcid.org/0000-0003-3712-5942
; Sveučilište u Zadru, Zadar, Hrvatska
Sažetak
The topic of this paper is the exploration of the character of
Morgan Le Fay in 12th-century Middle High German literature,
with a focus on the continuity and function of previously
unexplored pagan elements – such as the Apollonian cult
or the tripartite goddess – in her portrayal, along with the
associated magic, rituals, medicine, and relationships among
the protagonists. The theoretical framework examines various
interpretations of Morgan’s character in medieval and
earlier literature, including the development and changes in
her characterization across different cultural traditions and
genres. The aim of the research is to analyse specific 12thcentury
literary works and investigate how Middle High
German authors Hartmann von Aue (Erec and Iwein) and
Ulrich von Zatzikhoven (Lanzelet) portrayed Morgan’s character
in light of their sources, analogies, and contemporary
context, rather than viewing her portrayals in these texts
merely as archetypes. The corpus of the paper consists of
Middle High German Arthurian romances in which Morgan
is explicitly mentioned or where elements suggest that the
character in question is Morgan. The methodology involves
comparative interpretation, source identification, and an
analysis of irony in the portrayals of Morgan, with the goal
of determining the specific functions of her character in each
work. This research demonstrates the diversity of Morgan’s
characterizations and their influence on the development of
Middle High German Arthurian literature, as well as the reverse
influence: the impact of Middle High German Arthurian
literature on the diversity of Morgan’s characterization.
Ključne riječi
Arthurian romances; magic, medicine; Middle High German literature; Morgan Le Fay; pagan elements
Hrčak ID:
334035
URI
Datum izdavanja:
25.7.2025.
Posjeta: 238 *