Gottfrieds ›Tristan‹ und die generische Paradoxie

Abstract

Taking the example of Gottfried's ›Tristan‹ it can be seen how a paradoxical relationship between epic literature and Minnesang is being established which, far before the era of lyric poetry, allows a certain lyrical quality to appear in the narrative. The narrative, stressing the aesthetical effect of the Sang on different levels and even imitating it, leads – especially in ›Tristan‹ – to certain effects which can be described as »poetical emergence«. On the one hand Gottfried's narration – as in the sang – aims at overcoming its own undeniable temporal distance from the narrated by the contact-medium of voice. This is an attempt to sublate the narrative into a presence of its own, which is why it fails in the narrative course. On the other hand Tristan's and Isolde's failure and, likewise, that of their story and of its narrator turns out to be the prerequisite for aesthetically realizing the ideal of a time-exempt presence.