Der arme Heinrich (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Hartmann von Aue
- First Published: 1195
- Type of Work: Poetry
- Type of Plot: Didactic
- Time of Work: Late twelfth century
- Setting: Germany
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, medieval, Narrative poetry
- Subjects: Love or romance, Medicine, Miracles, Germany or German people, Middle Ages, Sacrifice, Leprosy, Knights or knighthood, Honor, Chivalry
- Locales: Germany
Characters Discussed
Heinrich von Aue (HIN-rihsh fon OW-eh), a Swabian knight. He is wealthy, handsome, and of noble birth; purity and honor are the marks of his life; and fulfillment of the obligations of knighthood is his goal. Suddenly, all is changed by the terrible knowledge that he is a leper. In search of a remedy, he finally learns that his only cure lies in finding a virgin who, out of love, will yield her heart’s blood. When a peasant girl begs Heinrich to allow her to make the sacrifice, he gives in to her pleas, but at the moment before the operation, he cannot...
[The entire page is 511 words long]
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