Abstract
This thesis is a comparison between two medieval courtly love lyrics. One lyric is an anonymous Middle English carol; the other is a Middle High German song composed by Walther von der Vogelweide. The English carol is 'Blow, northerne wynd'; the German lyric is 'Ich freudehelfeloser man.' This thesis considers two aspects of the lyrics, their structures and texts. Structural analysis includes a discussion of the different forms of carol and Minnelied; meter, rhyme, alliteration and stanza-linking are all discussed. One aspect of meter is pronunciation of unstressed, final vowels; this thesis considers final e elision in Middle English and Middle High German. Finally, content of the two poems, including themes, concepts of love, and style, are considered.
Birkner, Karen Astrid Morris (1993). A comparison between a Middle English carol and a Middle High German Minnelied. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -1993 -THESIS -B619.