Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Körper, Selbst, Schöpfung. Körper und Identität in den Rückkehrabenteuern der ›Tristan‹-Tradition

2009; De Gruyter; Volume: 131; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1515/bgsl.2009.028

1865-9373

Anja Becker,

As human beings, we have neither chosen our own body nor can we change our physical appearance at will. However, in the stories known as the ›Rückkehrabenteuer‹ Tristan, in order to meet his beloved Isolde, not only masquerades himself, but also alters his physical appearance in various ways. By analysing these literary phantasms of ›body design‹ in the versions of Eilhart von Oberg, Ulrich von Türheim, Heinrich von Freiberg and in the short narration ›Tristan als Mönch‹, medieval concepts of body and identity become apparent. Deviating somewhat from modern conceptions, the ability to alter ones own body does not bring about a gain in self-awareness, but rather indicates an identity crisis.