Hayren-Dichtung und Minnesang

The topic of this study is the medieval love poetry of Armenia and Germany: Hayren-poetry and Minnesang. Both literatures were society and entertainment-related recitation poetry, therefore certain dimensions of these poetries can be explained by social and medial similarities. Both poetries are viewed in a wide context, which is shaped by the specific social situation, as conceptions of love, marriage, adultery, and the place of women in the medieval societies of Armenia and Germany, but also inspired by classical literature and Holy Scripture. This study concentrates on parallels in motifs and topics covered in the individual genres, to bring out similarities and differences in the reflection on Minne (love) and in the depiction of the first person narrator and the lady in Hayren-poetry and Minnesang.