Der arme Heinrich

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Der arme Heinrich (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)

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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...

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