Heldenepos

Heldenepos denotes a type of Middle High German epic poem derived from remote Germanic historical traditions and emphasizing heroism and grandeur in tragic situations. The outstanding example of the heroic epic is the Nibelungenlied, which is unique in its power and stature; almost on the same level is Kudrun. The authorship of these poems is unknown; they are believed to be the work of commoners following poetry as a calling and patronized at courts.

The heroic epic flourished at the same time as the court epic (see Höfisches Epos), and similarly continued in gradually degenerating form in subsequent times. The commonest subject is some version of the story of the legendary figure of Dietrich von Bern (derived from the historical Theodoric of Verona; see Dietrichsage). Examples of this are Alpharts Tod, Dietrichs Flucht, Das Eckenlied, Laurin, Ortnit, Die Rabenschlacht, Sigenot, Virginal, and Wolfdietrich.

The anonymous epic Biterolf und Dietleib occupies a special position, sharing the characteristics of both types of epic.