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IMC 2008: Sessions

Session 519: Nature and Divine Order, I: Didactic Approaches to Nature in Medieval German Literature

Tuesday 8 July 2008, 09.00-10.30

Sponsor:Oswald von Wolkenstein-Gesellschaft / Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Gießen
Organiser:Cora Dietl, Institut für Germanistik, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Gießen
Moderator/Chair:Cora Dietl, Institut für Germanistik, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Gießen
Paper 519-aDer Naturbegriff in der mittelhochdeutschen didaktischen Literatur
(Language: Deutsch)
Christoph Schanze, Deutsches Seminar, Eberhard-Karls-Universität, Tübingen / International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture (GCSC) Justus-Liebig-Universität, Gießen
Index terms: Education, Language and Literature - German
Paper 519-bNatur und ihre Bedeutung in mittelhochdeutschen Schilderungen des Amazonenlandes
(Language: Deutsch)
Cordula Böcking-Politis, Department of Germanic Studies, Trinity College Dublin
Index terms: Gender Studies, Language and Literature - German
Paper 519-cDie Denaturierung des Gotteslobes: Sangspruchdichter des 13. Jahrhunderts im Spannungsfeld zwischen Glaube und Wissen
(Language: Deutsch)
Claudia Lauer, Institut für Germanistik, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Gießen
Index terms: Crusades, Education, Language and Literature - German
Abstract

In medieval literature nature is often depicted as a reflection of the divine order. What, however, is meant by the word 'nature'? Is the order that is expressed in nature equivalent to a rule, which could be used for didactic purposes in literature? Are exotic natures against the divine order or are they part of it? The papers of this session examine three different literary genres which display some didactic purposes. Each of the papers asks about what is meant by 'nature' in the respective literary genre and how nature is used to transport a specific didactic message, reflecting the relationship between mankind in general, the individual human being, the natural surroundings, and the divine order.