Wolfram von Eschenbach << VAWL frahm fuhn EHSH uhn `BAHK` >> (1170?-1220?) was a German knight and poet. His rhymed poem Parzival is considered a masterpiece of medieval literature.
Parzival is about a courageous boy who finds his way through ignorance and guilt to manhood and wisdom. During years of wandering, Parzival grows in purity and humility until finally God judges him worthy of the Grail, a holy stone that transmits God’s will by means of a mysterious inscription. Wolfram based his poem on a French romance by Chrétien de Troyes. Richard Wagner based his opera Parsifal on Wolfram’s masterpiece. Wolfram also wrote short poems and two unfinished verse epics—Titurel and Willehalm.
Little is known of Wolfram’s life. He was born into a noble family in Bavaria and probably served as a knight under powerful lords.
