Diz vliegende bîspel

Ambiguity in Medieval and Early Modern Literature. Essays in Honor of Arthur Groos

Contributions by Andrea Schindler Contributions by Markus Stock Contributions by Bonnie Buettner Contributions by John Greenfield Contributions by Matthias Meyer Contributions by Christoph Huber Contributions by David H. Price Contributions by Volker Mertens Contributions by Maria Dobozy Contributions by Helmut Puff Contributions by Ingrid Bennewitz Contributions by Danielle Buschinger Edited by Marian E. Polhill Edited by Alexander Sager

Book cover: Diz vliegende bîspel

Hardback (Published)

(July 2020)

ISBN: 9783847111573

6.34 x 9.25 inches

Price: $69.00

In stock

The famous expression diz vliegende bispel from Eschenbach’s Parzival is the volume’s watchword. In the poem the black and white plumage of the magpie represents it’s characteristic complexity, ambiguity, and ambivalence. Removed from it’s historical context it is also a figure of Arthur Groos’s wide-ranging intellectual flight. In addition to his work on medieval German verse narrative, he has made important contributions to courtly love poetry, medieval and early modern scientific literature, early modern German literature in general, and especially to opera. The essays honor him in all these areas.


The volume explores the theme of ambiguity in medieval and early modern literature in essays honoring the life and work of Arthur Groos, Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities at the Cornell University, USA, emeritus. The famous expression diz vliegende bispel from Eschenbach’s Parzival is its watchword. In the poem the black and white plumage of the magpie represents the characteristic complexity, ambiguity, and ambivalence of the novel. Removed from its historical context the expression is also a figure of Arthur Groos’ wide-ranging intellectual flight. In addition to his work on medieval German verse narrative, he has made important contributions to courtly love poetry, medieval and early modern scientific literature, early modern German literature in general, and especially to opera.

  • Contributions by Andrea Schindler
  • Contributions by Markus Stock
  • Contributions by Bonnie Buettner
  • Contributions by John Greenfield
  • Contributions by Matthias Meyer
  • Contributions by Christoph Huber
  • Contributions by David H. Price
  • Contributions by Volker Mertens
  • Contributions by Maria Dobozy
  • Contributions by Helmut Puff
  • Contributions by Ingrid Bennewitz
  • Contributions by Danielle Buschinger
  • Edited by Marian E. Polhill
  • Edited by Alexander Sager