Parzival: Reading Questions


Everyone must turn in answers to one set of reading questions on Parzival. If you turn in more than one, the extra grades will be applied first to replacing any zeros in the "shorter assignments" category, and then to replacing any low grades. However, no more than three sets of Parzival reading question will be graded. If you wish to turn in additional sets, just for writing practice, I will be glad to comment on them for you.

Books 3 and 4 (pp. 70-119).

When questions involve the plot, do not feel that you have to mention every possible detail. Give enough information to make the most important events clear, just as you would do if you were trying to tell someone the story. When questions ask "how are we supposed to feel" or "what are we supposed to think," be sure to give evidence for your answer.
  1. Why does Herzeloyde raise Parzival in such isolation and "poverty"? What does she give up in order to raise him in this way? How would you feel about this if it happened in real life? How do you think we are supposed to feel about it as we read Parzival?
  2. Why does Parzival leave his mother? What does she do to him and/or for him as he is leaving? What happens to Herzeloyde after Parzival leaves?
  3. How does Parzival become a knight? How good a knight does he become, and how quickly? Does he do anything along the way to becoming a knight that we are supposed to think of as wrong, criminal, or sinful?
  4. What happens on Parzival's wedding night? What is this supposed to make us think of Parzival and Herzeloyde? (It may be worth considering whether Erec, Iwein, Siegfried, etc. could have had such wedding nights.)
  5. Why does Parzival leave his wife? What are we supposed to think about him for doing this? Compare his departure from his wife to Iwein's and Gahmuret's departures from their wives.


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