Trübe Wolken, trübe Augen. Schatten im Werk Heinrichs von Morungen

Abstract

Philologists have often discussed the elaborate metaphorical use of sunlight in the songs of the Middle High German ›Minnesanger‹ Heinrich von Morungen as a characteristic of his art since he uses it to describe the power, violence, and beauty of the beloved vrouwe. However, the extent to which the motif of shadow functions as contrast and emphasis for Morungen’s programmatic use of light has never been considered as a subject for investigation so far. This paper outlines some initial ideas concerning the importance of shadow in the oeuvre of Morungen. Firstly, all of the relevant verses will be analyzed and arranged according to their typological order. Finally, the question will be discussed whether the famous schate in Morungen’s Narzisslied (MF 145,1) can be interpreted as ›shadow‹ similarly to the other verses in question. This final approach implies a close philological reading of both the third stanza of Morungen’s Narzisslied and various comparable passages in other Middle High German texts.