In "The Poor Heinrich," one of the most powerful narratives of the German Middle Ages, in the legend of the sinner saint Gregory, and in his second novel, "Iwein," Hartmann von Aue has shaped his great theme: the discovery of the self in the responsibility for oneself and others. "Iwein," with its elegant yet clear style, became the classic model of the courtly romance. New translations, introductions, and detailed commentaries on the texts in Middle High German are provided, enabling the reader to understand their worldly and literary references and peculiarities.