Gottfried Von Strassburg

Albrecht Classen (University of Arizona)

Ed. by Gerhard P. Knapp, University of Utah
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.4.1: German-language Writing and Culture: Germany, 500-present.
Vol. editors: Gerhard P. Knapp (University of Utah), Jennifer Marston William (Purdue University), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jill E. Twark (East Carolina University)

Dates

Born c. 1190
Died c. 1250
Activity 1210-1210

Places

Born in Germany
Active in Germany; France

Genres and Modes

Romance

Activities

Primary

Poet
Prose writer

Resources

Strassburg's Works

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Little is known today of the life of Gottfried von Strassburg. He is identified in the Manesse manuscript as “meister,” which indicates his high level of education which he probably received in Strassburg. We only know for sure that he wrote the monumental

Tristan

romance [see entry], and also believe that he composed some courtly love poems. In the prologue to

Tristan

, he integrated the acrostic of his patron, Dieterich, perhaps a wealthy and educated Strassburg citizen. Diverse poets such as Rudolf von Ems (ca. 1240), Konrad von Würzburg (ca. 1270), Konrad von Stoffeln (late 13th century), Heinrich von Freiberg (ca. 1300), and Johann von Würzburg greatly praised Gottfried’s poetic art.

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111 words

Citation: Classen, Albrecht. "Gottfried Von Strassburg". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 20 May 2003 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5392, accessed 23 November 2024.]