59 pages • 1 hour read
Parzival
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
Parzival is a medieval romance poem written by Wolfram von Eschenbach, likely written during the early 1200s. In the poem, a knight named Parzival searches for the Holy Grail. Commonly associated with the stories of King Arthur, Parzival is regarded as one of the most important verse poems of the medieval German period. The story has been adapted many times, notably as an opera named Parsifal by the composer Richard Wagner.
This guide uses the 2006 Oxford World Classics edition, translated by Cyril Edwards.
Plot Summary
Parzival begins with the story of Gahmuret, Parzival’s father. Gahmuret is the youngest son of the King of Anjou. Since he does not stand to inherit anything, he sets out on an adventure to the Middle East. He saves Queen Belacane and marries her, becoming king. The couple has a son named Feirefiz, whose mottled skin resembles a magpie. When Gahmuret tires of life in the Middle East, he returns to Anjou. There, he falls in love with Queen Herzeloyde at a jousting tournament. Though he is reluctant, he marries her but returns to the Middle East to quell a siege. Gahmuret is killed in battle before his son, Parzival, is born.
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