Das mittelniederdeutsche Theophilus-Spiel: Die Textfunktionen der Gestalt Marias in der Wolfenbütteler Handschrift

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to offer an analysis of the figure of the Virgin Mary within a middle-low-German Theophilus-Spiel: the text of the play will be provided according to the Wolfenbüttel manuscript version. The study of the textual functions of the Virgin Mary character will be the starting point for a discussion on how she could have been perceived by a middle-low-German audience and how her figure has changed within a few centuries. I will compare Mary to three other main characters of the manuscript: this, in turn, will offer an overview of the main functions of the Virgin Mary as well as her characterization in the Wolfenbüttel manuscript.