The article investigates the meaning of ›shadows‹ in selected courtly romances of the 13th century, most significantly Wirnt von Gravenberg’s Wigalois as well as Wolfram von Eschenbach’s Parzival and Willehalm. The question in focus is whether shadows in medieval narratives perform a specific function. Firstly, the change of meaning of the ›shadow‹ from the rhetorical traditions of antiquity (i.e., locus amoenus) to medieval literary traditions will be examined. In addition, the analysis of relevant scenes in which the shadow of a tree plays an important role helps to answer the question of whether the shadow as narrative tool functions as a significant element in the plot of courtly romances in general.