German Literature up to c.1600

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. If one disregards very early runic inscriptions, what is the oldest text in any of the Germanic languages? Beowulf Ulfilas' translation of the parts of the Bible into Gothic The Edda Wessobrunner Gebet

2. Which text is accepted as the earliest known work of German literature? Niebelungenlied Merseburger Zaubersprüche Muspilli Hildebrandslied

3. In the Old High German period (that is, up to c. 1050) one of the few authors whose name is known is that of Roswitha von Gandersheim, but as she wrote in Latin, not German, her works aren't usually counted as "German Literature". True False

4. In the Middle High German period (c. 1050-1400) there was a literary Golden Age, from about 1190-1250. Which of these epics falls outside the Golden Age, is generally considered poor, and probably would be almost unknown if it had not been revived in one of Wagner's operas? Lohengrin (Author uncertain) Parzifal (Wolfram von Eschenbach) Niebelungenlied (Anonymous) Tristan und Isolt (Gottfried von Strassburg)

5. During the Golden Age of Middle High German literature (c.1190-1250) and also in the preceding twenty years or so, much excellent lyric poetry was written. Who, by common consent, is the leading lyric poet of the period? Heinrich von Morungen Der von Kürenberg Walther von der Vogelweide Dietmar von Aist

6. In the poetry of "Hohe Minne" ("courtly love") the relationship was always adulterous. True False

7. In indexes to histories of German literature and works such as the "Oxford Companion to German Studies" medieval authors are found under their first names. Why? All of these reasons What appears to be a family name may be a nickname given at the time In medieval times many people didn't have family names What appears to be a family name may be a name assigned by editors in the 19th century or even later

8. The period c. 1450-1600 was the heyday of the guilds of Master Singers in many of the cities of Germany. One city in particular was famous for its "Meistersinger" and included among its members a poet who achieved acclaim throughout Germany. Which city was it? Mainz Nuremberg Augsburg Breslau

9. Martin Luther (1483-1546) translated the Bible into German. When was his translation of the New Testament first published? 1517 1522 1540 1549

10. Now a light-hearted question. Walther von der Vogelweide wrote the original version of the 'Deutschlandlied', which is better known by its first line: 'Deutschland, Deutschland über alles'. True False