Die Närrin als konstitutiver Störfaktor in Jörg Wickrams Goldtfaden (1557)

Abstract

Jörg Wickram’s novel Der Goldtfaden deals with courtly communication in the form of an unusual constellation of its participants. It is a complex system of norms that is binding for all members of the court and becomes problematic if an outsider joins the act. Communication situations are presented in a variety of media, some of which succeed through fortunate coincidence, while others fail due to existing conventions and their disregard. Above all, the figure of the fool plays an essential role, which is constitutive for the entire text.