The Middle High German heroic epics are based on (pseudo-)historical themes and figures from a warlike early period. This original reference often recedes into the background in the Middle High German heroic epics, which were created from around 1200 to approximately 1600. Middle High German heroic epic—of which the Nibelungenlied is the most famous example—is late heroic poetry, characterized by genre interferences with courtly romance, bridal quest, and legendary epic. This volume presents the text group of Middle High German heroic epics in a clear format. It addresses texts and thematic circles, genre issues, genre characteristics, and genre development, as well as aspects of poetics and central conceptualizations of the genre. The reader thus receives well-founded foundational information on the topic, detailed action analyses, and references to further research.