Susanne Knaeble

Prof. Dr. Susanne Knaeble is the Chair of Old German Literature at the University of Regensburg since April 2025, succeeding Prof. Dr. Edith Feistner. Previously, she held various academic positions including acting professorships at multiple German universities and served as Privatdozentin at the University of Bayreuth since September 2020. She has established herself as a leading scholar in medieval German literature with a particular focus on narrative structures and historical concepts of time.

Her academic background includes:

• Completed habilitation at University of Bayreuth in 2016 (Venia Legendi for Old German Philology)
• Doctorate (Dr. phil.) from University of Bayreuth (2009), summa cum laude, with dissertation on 'Courtly Narratives of God: Function and Narrative Development of the Religious in Wolfram's Parzival' (awarded Bayreuth Doctoral Prize)
• Master's degree (Magistra Artium) from University of Bayreuth (2006), majoring in Early German Philology

Prof. Knaeble's research focuses on historical narratology, particularly examining conceptions of the future in early German-language prose novels, religious narratives in medieval literature, gender studies in medieval contexts, and translation cultures of the early modern period. Her work combines literary theory with cultural studies, often exploring how medieval and early modern texts construct gender, power, and temporal concepts. She has made significant contributions to the understanding of works like Wolfram's Parzival, Melusine legends, and the Duke Ernst romance, with particular attention to narrative structures, religious motifs, and gender representations. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges literary studies with gender theory, cultural history, and translation studies.

Her recent publications demonstrate a growing interest in intersectional approaches to literary studies, translation theory, and the application of contemporary theoretical frameworks to medieval texts. The articles show a consistent focus on narrative strategies, particularly how medieval literature constructs concepts of time, gender, and cultural identity. Her work often bridges the gap between medieval studies and contemporary theoretical concerns, making historical texts relevant to current scholarly debates. She has increasingly incorporated digital humanities approaches into her research while maintaining rigorous textual analysis.

Her notable awards include:

• Bayreuth Doctoral Prize (2010)
• Lifelong support from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Humboldtianerin)

Prof. Knaeble has secured significant research funding, including a DFG project on 'Conceptions of the Future in Early German-Language Prose Novels' (2014-2016) and a Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship for her work at Stanford University. She has supervised numerous doctoral students and has been actively involved in academic service, including serving on faculty councils and organizing academic conferences. Her teaching focuses on Old German literature, with particular expertise in medieval narrative structures and religious motifs. She has developed innovative teaching methods that incorporate digital tools while maintaining traditional philological approaches.

She is associated with the Collaborative Research Center SPP 2130 'Translation Cultures of the Early Modern Period' and has contributed to several interdisciplinary research initiatives focusing on medieval and early modern German literature. Her current research explores the intersection of literary narrative, gender representation, and temporal concepts in early German prose, with a particular emphasis on how these texts construct future possibilities and cultural identities.