!!!Geistliche Dichtung

Religious Literature: Comprises epic, poetic and dramatic texts of 
religious content with an instructive and edifying function. The 
authors were secular priests and monks as well as laymen. It was 
mostly written in Latin; first vernacular examples of the 
German-speaking world date back to the 9%%sup th/%  century 
(old-German spells and blessings). Translations of prayers, such as 
the Creed and the Lord´s Prayer, and Otfrid´s 
"Evangelienharmonie" manuscript (Handschrift V, Austrian National 
Library, Vienna) originated during the Old High German period; from 
the 2%%sup nd/%  half of the 11%%sup th/%  century the German literary 
tradition was revived with the  Physiologus (1070) and Bible and 
salvation poetry ( Altdeutsche Genesis, 1060; Exodus, 1120; Frau Ava's 
"Leben Jesu"). Further written records are elegies, descriptions of 
life after death and repentance poems ( Heinrich von Melk, "Von des 
todes gehugede", around 1155) as well as songs and poems in praise of 
the Virgin Mary (Melker Marienlied, around 1150, Priester Wernhers 
"Marienleben"). During the high Middle Ages religious literature was 
largely replaced by secular courtly literature, as a consequence of 
the emancipation of the knighthood. Bible epics comprise the works 
"Kindheit Jesu" (after 1200) by Konrad von Fussesbrunnen, "Gotes 
zukunft" by Heinrich von Neustadt and "Christi hort" by Gundacker von 
Judenburg. There also exists a large compilation of  Legends. The 
close relation between religious and historical literature becomes 
apparent in the world  Chronicles (Rudolf von Ems, Jans Enikel, 
Ottokar aus der Gaal). In the course of the late Middle Ages  
Religious Drama developed along with Sermons and edifying and 
instructive poems (Hugo von Montfort, Hans Vintler, Hermann von 
Salzburg, et al.). The concept of medieval religious songs was 
continued in Catholic and Protestant hymns sung by the congregations 
in church. Religious literature with all its genres has always played 
an important role in the literature of Austria.

!Literature
J. Janota, Studien zu Funktion und Typus des deutschen 
geistlichen Liedes im Mittelalter, 1968; G. Meissburger, Grundlagen 
zum Verstaendnis der deutschen Moenchsdichtung im 11. und 12. 
Jahrhundert, 1970; H. Rupp, Die deutschen religioesen Dichtungen des 
11. und 12 Jahrhunderts, %%sup 2/%1971.


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