Abstract:

Religion played an important role in medieval German society. In the aforementioned period, German society, like the European society in general, adhered to Christianity and the teachings of the Bible. For this reason, the authors of the period frequently used religious elements and motifs in their works, and religious subjects and people were the subject of their works. Like his contemporaries, Konrad von Würzburg, one of the most important representatives of medieval German literature, uses religious figures in his works to set an example for the society. In his works "Pantaleon", "Alexius" and "Silvester", which he translated into German by reading and learning from Latin sources, the author conveys similar virtues and behaviours to his readers-listeners through different main characters and plots: Alexius who rejects the world and everything worldly, Pantaleon who risks death in the way of God, and Silvester who makes even non-believers believe in God with his miracles. The main similarities of these three main characters are their devotion and renunciation. In this study, Konrad von Würzburg's "Pantaleon", "Alexius" and "Silvester" will be analysed in the context of the devotion and renunciation of the characters. While analysing the works and the main characters, how the social structure and religion affect literature will be interpreted and the teachings that the author aims to convey to the readers and listeners will be emphasised.