The volume assembles all the studies on Minnesang published so far by Jan-Dirk MA1/4ller. Their common denominator is the combination of literary theory and the historical perspective on Minnesang, with constant reference to specific examples. The impulses emanating from New Philology prove to have a genuine bearing on Minnesang by virtue of the emphasis on the intrinsic logic of different versions. Other approaches shown to provide valuable insights on this body of literature are the social history perspective, discourse analysis, and aspects of the deconstructivist paradigm.

Narratology from the Perspective of Medieval Studies systematically compiles research on the otherness of medieval narratives. It places a particular focus on the way that narrative forms are always linked to the meaning of narrative content. Key topics include genre, narrative patterns, connections to contemporary world knowledge, models of time and space, plot structure, andnarrator concepts.The book is primarily intended for medievalists and advanced students."

Coats of arms, clothing and armour are easier to manipulate than passports or ID cards. Medieval narratives are full of scenes in which there is a problem in clearly identifying who and what is who. From these, it is possible to reconstruct models of recognising the other, which alienate us today, but reveal much about ideas of perception and identity at the time. The book shows how courtly literature uses literary games with these models both to confirm and continually to question central premisses of feudal culture.