Freedom, Love, Nobility: The Falkenmotiv in Medieval and Modern German Literature, with an Emphasis on Werner Bergengruen’s “Die drei Falken”

Medieval literature has deeply shaped modern through many different channels. Sometimes entire works were translated or paraphrased into languages, sometimes medieval motifs, themes, figures, concepts impacted texts. This article examines one remarkable example, Werner Bergengruen’s highly popular novella “Die drei Falken” (1928) the source of inspiration which was loosely Boccaccio’s story told on Day V, no. 9 in his Decameron (ca. 1350). Throughout time, falcon regularly symbolized courtly love, nobility, and desire for individual freedom. After a discussion text selection examples where same motive appears, this how Bergengruen transformed symbol an expression human nobility felt personal