Zwischen Herausgehobenheit und Verrätselung

Abstract This article deals with a widespread phenomenon of ancient and medieval written culture: acrostics. On the basis of three case studies on Albert’s Ulrichslegende, Ebernand von Erfurt’s ›Heinrich und Kunigunde‹, and ›Erlösung‹, the contribution aims to show that acrostics are not just forms of playing around with letters and words. The three cases presented have in common that the acrostics are indicated by a key. The analyses provide exemplary evidence that a broad functional spectrum can be linked back to the phenomenon, shedding light in a more general perspective on the paths of vernacular German language in the book culture of the Middle Ages.