In the first semester we will study in detail two notable narratives from the so-called Middle High German 'Blütezeit', normally Hartmann von Aue's 'Erec' and the anonymous 'Nibelungenlied'. In the second semester we will study two more, normally Gottfried von Strassburg's 'Tristan' and Wolfram von Eschenbach's 'Wilhalm'. These will be studied both in their own right and as representatives of contrasting genres.