Topographies of Gender in Middle High German Arthurian Romance: Studies in the Representation of Space and the Construction of Gender Identities

The Middle High German Arthurian romances are a rich source of material for the study of gender. These texts, which were written in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, offer a glimpse into the ways in which medieval authors thought about gender and the roles of men and women. In this article, I will explore the topographies of gender in Middle High German Arthurian romance, examining how space is used to construct and represent gender identities.

I will begin by discussing the ways in which the castle is used as a symbol of male power and authority. The castle is a space that is both public and private, and it is often used to stage scenes of violence and conflict. In the Arthurian romances, the castle is typically the home of the lord or king, and it is a place where women are often excluded or marginalized.

Topographies of Gender in Middle High German Arthurian Romance (Studies in Medieval History and Culture Book 2)

by Alexandra Sterling-Hellenbrand

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	932 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	263 pages

FREE

In contrast to the castle, the forest is a space that is associated with women and nature. The forest is a place of danger and adventure, but it is also a place where women can find freedom and independence. In the Arthurian romances, the forest is often the setting for scenes of love and romance, and it is a place where women can escape the constraints of the castle.

The garden is another important space in the Arthurian romances. The garden is a place of beauty and fertility, and it is often associated with the Virgin Mary. In the Arthurian romances, the garden is often the setting for scenes of love and courtship, and it is a place where women can find solace and peace.

The three spaces of the castle, the forest, and the garden are all important symbols of gender in the Middle High German Arthurian romances. These spaces are used to construct and represent gender identities, and they provide a framework for understanding the ways in which medieval authors thought about gender.

In addition to the three main spaces of the castle, the forest, and the garden, there are a number of other spaces that are used to represent gender in the Middle High German Arthurian romances. These spaces include the city, the church, and the tournament field. The city is a space of commerce and trade, and it is often associated with the merchant class. The church is a space of religion and spirituality, and it is often associated with the clergy. The tournament field is a space of violence and competition, and it is often associated with the aristocracy.

The ways in which these spaces are used to represent gender are complex and varied. In some cases, spaces are used to reinforce traditional gender roles. For example, the castle is often used to represent the power and authority of men, while the forest is often used to represent the danger and adventure that women face.

In other cases, spaces are used to challenge and subvert traditional gender roles. For example, the garden is often used to represent the beauty and fertility of women, and it is a place where women can find solace and peace. The city is also a space where women can find freedom and independence, and it is often the setting for scenes of love and romance.

The Middle High German Arthurian romances offer a rich and complex view of gender. These texts provide a glimpse into the ways in which medieval authors thought about gender, and they offer a valuable resource for understanding the construction of gender identities in the Middle Ages.

Works Cited

Bumke, Joachim. Courtly Culture: Literature and Society in the High Middle Ages. Translated by Thomas Dunlap. New York: Columbia University Press, 1991.

Classen, Albrecht. The Medieval Castle: Image and Reality. Translated by Debra DeLaIglesia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006.

Duby, Georges. The Three Orders: Feudal Society Imagined. Translated by Arthur Goldhammer. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1980.

Egan, Jennifer. The Garden in Medieval Art. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2006.

Frazer, James George. The Golden Bough: A Study in Comparative Religion. London: Macmillan and Co., 1922.

Hagen, Ann. Listening to Women's Voices in the Middle Ages. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2006.

Hashimoto, Atsuko. Landscapes of Desire: Gender, Nature, and Healing in the Middle Ages. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.

Johnson, Penelope D. Equal in Monastic Profession: Religious Women in the Anglo-Saxon World. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1991.

McCluskey, Sally. The Land of Noble Deeds: Arthurian Narrative and the Masculine Ideal in Thirteenth-Century Occitan Literature. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2005.

Mortimer, Richard. King Arthur's Knights: The Arthurian Tradition in Medieval England. London: Boydell Press, 2004.

Remensnyder, Amy G. Performing Gender in Medieval and Early Modern Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2012.

Spiegel, Gabrielle M. The Past as Text: The Theory and Practice of Medieval Historiography. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997.

Stroh, Paul. The Perception of Space: Artists, Performers, and Spectators in the Middle Ages. Burlington: Ashgate, 2001.

Topographies of Gender in Middle High German Arthurian Romance (Studies in Medieval History and Culture Book 2)

by Alexandra Sterling-Hellenbrand

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	932 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	263 pages

FREE