Vernacular Literary Theory in the Middle Ages

Focusing on medieval literary theory, this groundbreaking study reveals how vernacular writers contributed to the development of an independent poetics, challenging the notion that their reflections merely stemmed from established Latin traditions. Walter Haug examines primarily German literature while also considering French texts, highlighting the evolving narrative forms of the time. This first English edition of the influential work, originally published in German in 1985, offers insights applicable to medieval literature across various European languages.