Motif index of German secular narratives from the beginning to 1400

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This reference work is essential for narratologists, medievalists, literary historians, and cultural historians. Building on Stith Thompson's Motif Index of Folk Literature, it catalogs significant narrative motifs in German secular literature from the 9th to 14th centuries. Motifs are defined as consciously formed narrative topics that are structurally stable and relevant to the action, such as "Fairies becoming visible through a magic ring" or "Fight with the dragon." The index not only lists occurrences of these motifs across various medieval texts but also features a sophisticated indexing system for easy access and research. Users can quickly locate parallel occurrences or track motif developments across genres and periods. The first five volumes present genre-based catalogs arranged alphabetically by work, covering areas like Matière de Bretagne and courtly romance. Each relevant passage includes a concise paraphrase and the corresponding Thompson classification. Volume 6 offers three valuable indexes, including a central motif index and keyword index, along with a CD-ROM to enhance search capabilities. This comprehensive Motif Index will be a key resource for scholars in medieval literature and language, organized according to international standards and published in English.