An analysis of the structure and themes of Der Stricker's Pfaffe Amis

P Language and Literature > PT Germanic literature

Lambert, James

University:University of Birmingham

Department:School of Languages, Cultures, Art History and Music, Department of Modern Languages

关键词: P Language and Literature;    PT Germanic literature;   

Others  :  http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/456/1/Lambert76MA.pdf

来源: University of Birmingham eTheses Repository

【 摘 要 】

After an introduction treating the problems surrounding the identity of the poet and his background, the manuscripts of Pfaffe Amis, the virtues and shortcomings of modern editions of the work and the position of research so far (Chapter l), Chapter II looks at the genre "Schwank" and Pfaffe Amis as a "Schwank" collection, and considers each or the individual episodes of the work as a "Schwank" in its own right, looking particularly at the comedy of each of these episodes. Chapters III and IV treat two particular problems connected with interpretation of the work, the question of Amis' conversion and the aim and relevance of the prologue (lines 1-38, 39-43) respectively, while Chapter V considers the central theme of the work, looking at various interpretations of the work and at the same time developing its own. Chapters VI to IX consider the structure of the work. Chapter VI looks at the unifying elements within the work and rejects the idea of the last two episodes being a later addition. Chapter VII recognises these last two episodes as being one of several sets of pairs of "Schwänke" which relate to the structural three-fold division within the work. Chapter VIII explores the idea of the work as the combination of two separate cycles of "Schwänke” and discerns underlying structures which emphasise the unity of the work. Chapter IX sums up.