Der 'Oberdeutsche vierzeilige Totentanz'

Dances of Death are concerned with death, dying and transience: 'Being led to dance by Death' means to die. This bewildering imagery has fascinated readers and viewers from medieval to present times and still provokes research. Using the example of the 'Oberdeutsche vierzeilige Totentanz,' Almut Breitenbach investigates the role and meaning of the late medieval Dances of Death in their cultural and historical context. Exploring the textual history and transmission of the 'Oberdeutsche vierzeilige Totentanz' as well as its contexts of reception in a broad interdisciplinary perspective, the author casts new light on the understanding of late medieval Dances of Death in general. Also, insights into forms of production, reception and adaption of spiritual literature are gained which were strongly influenced by medieval practices of reading and meditation.