Das iro-keltische und das antike Erbe der Fee Morgain und ihrer Schwestern: Feenmotivik in den mittelhochdeutschen Artuswerken Lanzelet, Erec, Iwein, Parzival und Tristan

The fact that the Arthurian literature, the "matière de Bretagne," is mainly derived from Iro-Celtic myths and narrative motifs is unquestioned. This fact also applies to many female figures in Middle High German Arthurian literature, whose roots lie in Iro-Celtic mythology. Their Iro-Celtic heritage results in specific characteristics which portray many female figures in Arthurian literature to be fairies originally derived from Irish goddesses. Their prototype can be seen in the ambiguous goddess "Morrigan" in Irish mythology. On its long way from Irish myths into European Arthurian literature, the fairy motifs were also influenced by other traditions, especially by the Roman myth of the Goddess Diana. However, the iro-Celtic influences are prevalent and result in a particular "fairy type" in several Middle High German Arthurian epics. This "fairy type" shows itself on two different levels: On the one hand, the fairy doesn’t appear personally in the work, but is mentioned by her name "Fee Morgain," usually in combination with a lengthy description of her characteristics and powers. On the other hand, the fairy is disguised as a lady, asking a knight to complete a task in order to win herseif, and therefore she takes an important part in the plot. It is the intention of this thesis to prove the Iro-Celtic heritage of the Arthurian fairy in certain works of the Middle High German Arthurian literature, including to a certain extent influences from other traditions.