United in Death: Religious Perspectivisations of the Good End in ›Alexius‹, ›Anastasia von Spanien‹ and ›Der Bräutigam im Paradies‹

Abstract

The three religious short narratives examined in this article deal with the problem of the conditions under which secular and religious expectations can be harmonised with regard to a good ending. The narrative pattern of separation and reunion of a married couple or a family is used to make the transformation of social relationships in the context of ascetic forms of life plausible. The narrative conclusions stage a break with conventional expectations of a good secular ending and thus open up new possibilities for a spiritual reunion.

The series of texts demonstrates the importance of establishing alternative community models in the religious short story. These are based on a permeability between this world and the hereafter, which is constitutive of legendary storytelling. In this type of narrative, participation in salvation is not limited to the protagonists, since the opening of the text’s conclusion also guides the recipients towards a religious way of life.