Heroines Of The French Epic: A Second Selection Of Chansons De Geste
by Michael A.H. Newth /
2014 / English / EPUB
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The epic tales of medieval France, called
The epic tales of medieval France, calledchansons de geste
chansons de geste,
or "songs of deeds", provided the chief means of cultural and
imaginative expression in the French language for over one hundred
and fifty years (c.1100-1250), during one of the most significant
periods of social change in the history of Western civilisation.
Yet they remain largely unknown to most English-speaking readers of
the twenty-first century. In
,
or "songs of deeds", provided the chief means of cultural and
imaginative expression in the French language for over one hundred
and fifty years (c.1100-1250), during one of the most significant
periods of social change in the history of Western civilisation.
Yet they remain largely unknown to most English-speaking readers of
the twenty-first century. InHeroes of the Old French Epic
Heroes of the Old French Epic
(Boydell, 2005) Michael Newth translated a selection of the
traditional militaristic narratives dominated by male heroes. This
oral-based epic genre was increasingly influenced by the ethos of
romance, and the present volume offers full English verse
translations of six more of these songs, each chosen this time to
illustrate the range of roles gradually accorded to women in these
originally militaristic narratives. Four key narrative roles have
been selected - woman as helpmeet, woman as lover, woman as victim,
and woman as spiritual model - in order to illustrate some major
changes in the social status of women that took place during the
period of this popular genre's existence. These poems are a key
witness to the final stages of the
(Boydell, 2005) Michael Newth translated a selection of the
traditional militaristic narratives dominated by male heroes. This
oral-based epic genre was increasingly influenced by the ethos of
romance, and the present volume offers full English verse
translations of six more of these songs, each chosen this time to
illustrate the range of roles gradually accorded to women in these
originally militaristic narratives. Four key narrative roles have
been selected - woman as helpmeet, woman as lover, woman as victim,
and woman as spiritual model - in order to illustrate some major
changes in the social status of women that took place during the
period of this popular genre's existence. These poems are a key
witness to the final stages of thechansons de geste
chansons de geste before
they were overtaken by the new fashion for the fictions of courtly
romance. Apart from "The Capture of Orange", which has never been
translated into modern English verse, none of the poems have yet
appeared in English translation.
before
they were overtaken by the new fashion for the fictions of courtly
romance. Apart from "The Capture of Orange", which has never been
translated into modern English verse, none of the poems have yet
appeared in English translation.
