Parzival

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Wolfram, Parzival 1,1ff (Prologue) - Ist zwiffel hertzen noch gebur... (Heidelberg, Cod. Pal. germ. 339, fol. 6r)

Parzival (also Perceval, Peredur, Perlesvaus) is the title character of the Middle High German verse novel of the same name by Wolfram von Eschenbach, probably completed between 1200 and 1210[1], and describes the search for the Holy Grail with close reference to the Arthurian legend. Eschenbach's main source was the Grail tale Li Contes del Graal ou Le roman de Perceval by Chrétien de Troyes, written about 20 years earlier but left unfinished, which in turn is based on the Welsh romance of Peredur fab Efrawg ("Peredur, the son of Efrawg").

Wolfram, however, does not refer to Chrétien de Troyes, but to an otherwise unknown Provençal poet named Kyot as a source, whom he mentions for the first time quite abruptly in the 8th book of his poetry and whose story he then presents in more detail in the 9th chapter. Kyot, for his part, refers to a forgotten manuscript by a certain Flegetanis, who was an Arab astronomer and astrologer. Friedrich von Suhtscheck-Hauschka has even expressed the opinion - though not shared by other scholars - that the Grail narrative is of Persian origin (Lit.: Suhtscheck, Die iranischen Quellen in Wolframs Parzival).

In any case, Eschenbach expanded the tale, which is known from Chrétien de Troyes, many times, especially with the prehistory of Parzival's father Gahmuret and Parzival's encounter with his dark half-brother Feirefiz at the end of the tale. Richard Wagner adapted the material very vividly and independently in his stage festival Parsifal, which premiered in 1882.

Literatur

References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated.
Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com.
Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books
A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works
Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English.
Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold
steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA)
Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF.

References

  1. Kindlers Literatur Lexikon, Metzler, Stuttgart 2008