Der Marner
Der Marner was a 13th-century German minnesinger known for his critical perspective on the papacy and the church, making him a notable figure in the realm of didactic poetry. His most recognized piece is "Tagelied," but he is also linked to the legend of Die Lorelei, a rock along the Rhine River associated with the myth of a siren. In his poetry, he places the treasure of the Niebelungen beneath this iconic rock, weaving together themes of folklore and morality. Der Marner's social standing remains ambiguous; he traveled to different patrons for support, suggesting he may not have belonged to a privileged class. However, his proficiency in Latin indicates he received some education. His body of work includes German and Latin songs, categorized into didactic themes and love poetry aimed at a courtly audience. While he intended to impart moral lessons through his didactic works, he also showcased his versatility through love songs. Interestingly, Der Marner's relationship with his fellow poets was contentious, as he often criticized them and became a target of their mockery.
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Subject Terms
Der Marner
Poet
- Born: 1230
- Died: 1287
Biography
Der Marner, a thirteenth century German minnesinger, was known for his critical stance toward the papacy and the church. He is considered a significant author of didactic poetry. While his most famous work is Tagelied, he is also associated with the mythology of Die Lorelei, a large rock along the Rhine River that was thought to be home of a siren who called fishermen to their doom. One of Der Marner’s poems places the treasure of Niebelungen beneath the Lorelei rock.
His social background is unclear, but throughout his life, Der Marner wandered from patron to patron, which may be an indication that he was not from a very high social class. Still, his Latin skills indicate that he had some education. During his career, Der Marner relied on his patrons for support. His œuvre of works contains an impressive variety of songs in German and Latin. They are divided into three groups, two of which consist of didactic poetry, while the third group includes only love poetry. His collection of German works was written for a lay, courtly audience. The first group of didactic works have related themes, while the second group displays a wide variety of themes. Der Marner was most interested in creating didactic works, but he also wrote a collection of love songs to demonstrate his skill in other genres. His Latin works are made up of five songs in the style of the Carmina Burana. Der Marner was not friendly with his contemporaries. He attacked others in his songs and was an object of ridicule in other poets’ works.