This introduction provides an overview of German literature of the Middle Ages and delivers the foundational knowledge necessary for its understanding. It informs about the cultural and media conditions as well as the circumstances of literary communication, including literary centers, authors and scribes, patrons, and audiences. The author describes the epochs of medieval German literature, the central works, and identifies the themes and discourses. With illustrations, timelines, lists of works, bibliographies, and indexes of works and individuals. For the second edition, the volume has been revised and particularly updated bibliographically.