Gavanid novel

The Gawaniden novel represents a sub-genre of the Arthurian novel . The stories about a member of the clan of the Arthurian knight Gawan (Gawein) can be found in the French, German and English literature of the Middle Ages. The term is derived from the name of Gawan's grandson "Lifort Gawanides" (= the strong Gawanide), the son of the novel hero Wigalois ( Gui li Galois ). What these works have in common is the youthful hero from Gawan's clan, who in the course of the narrative turns out to be his nephew, son or brother or who is informed by others about his true origin (and relationship with Gawan).

content

An unknown youthful hero arrives at Arthur's court, is accepted into the round table and is allowed to help a virgin messenger who asks for assistance from King Arthur for her mistress. As an inexperienced knight, he goes through a series of topical probation adventures (fight at the ford, fight for the beautiful little dog, hostel fight) and is then allowed to devote himself to freeing the lady from an unloved suitor or magician.

European Gavanid novels

• around 1200 Renaut de Bâgé (Beaujeu) : "Le Bel Inconnu" , French.
• around 1210 Wirnt von Grafenberg : " Wigalois " , dt.
• around 1260 Albrecht von Scharfenberg : " Seifrid de Ardemont " , German.
• 1325–50 Lybeaus Desconus, engl.
• 1470 Thomas Malory : "Sir Gareth" ( " Le Morte Darthur " , book 7)
• 1478–81 Ulrich Füetrer : “Wigoleis” , German.
• 1478–81 Ulrich Füetrer: "Seyfrid" , dt.
• 1483 "Wigoleis vom Rade" , German prose novel, printed in 1493
• around 1455 Dietrich von Hopfgarten : "Wigelis" , verse arrangement
• 15th century "Knight Widuwilt" , West Yiddish
• 1530 Claude Platin : "L'hystoire de Giglan" , French.

literature

• Host von Grafenberg: Wigalois. Translated by Sabine Seelbach u. Ulrich Seelbach. Berlin: de Gruyter 2005 ISBN 3-11-017732-3 , epilogue p. 263 ff.

Web links

• Wirnt von Grafenberg: Bibliography (PDF file; 283 kB)