Co-operation project between the University of Bremen and the University of Oldenburg; funded by the Central Research Funding of the University of Bremen, funding line 06 A Exploration projects on new topics; project period: 01.11.2025-31.10.2027. Participants: Prof Dr Anja Becker (University of Bremen) (applicant and 1st spokesperson), Dr Britta Bußmann (2nd spokesperson), Prof Dr Albrecht Hausmann (University of Oldenburg), PD Dr Sonja Kerth-Wittrock (University of Bremen)

The project examines Middle High German literary narratives of female acts of resistance with regard to their narrative content and forms as well as their inner-literary functions and their cultural-historical creation of meaning as narratives.

The current topic of resistance has many facets that remain invisible if resistance is reduced to the realm of politics and active behaviour. Women have resisted at all times, and literary texts bear witness to this, even in the Middle Ages. However, this topic has so far been overlooked in literary research, which is why it is first necessary to visualise female resistance in literary texts of the Middle Ages and to map its dimensions. In what constellations, by what means and with what outcome do female characters in Middle High German literature offer resistance? As these are literary narratives of acts of resistance, the techniques and procedures of narration must also be analysed. Who narrates how and by means of which patterns of female resistance? These narratives are usually part of a larger narrative context, which is why their functions in relation to the overarching meaning of the literary work must be analysed: Do they offer exemplary, alternative or even subversive meaning? Do they also offer medieval (and contemporary) culture meaningful interpretations and patterns of thought? If so, do they stabilise existing convictions or do they open up new ways of understanding, even new cultural narratives?

The project not only explores an innovative field of research in medieval literary studies, it also represents a central element of an interdisciplinary research initiative of Faculty 10 of the University of Bremen on "Constellations of Refusal". A joint research project is currently in preparation. The cooperative project occupies an important position within this framework. The exploration project on female resistance thus aims to acquire third-party funding (planned with the DFG).

Next activities:

19.05.2026 ir liute, ir lant, ir lîp. Female resistance in the Condwiramurs episode of Wolfram's Parzival. Lecture as part of the lecture series "Kultur im Kloster" in Rostock (Dr Britta Bußmann)

21-23 September 2026 together with Prof. Dr Anja Becker: Interdisciplinary and international conference: "Weiblicher Widerstand in mittel-alterlicher Literatur. Forms, Narratives, Functions" (University of Bremen)

WS 2026/2027 Substitution of the W3 professorship "German Medieval Studies and Early Modern Research up to the End of the 16th Century" by Dr Britta Bußmann (University of Bremen)