ENGS 021 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Lanval, Guinevere, Octosyllable
12 Nov 2017
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Document Summary
A lyrical, narrative poem written in octosyllabic couplets that often deals. Legend of king arthur folklore meets history. 1st composition written by a woman that we"ve read. Marie de france uses octosyllabic couplets with tales of adventure and romance. Material written for princesses and noble ladies (orally) Chaucer; 1400"s french influence over language. 250 years later marie, written in britain. King arthur generous (dispenses gifts), good king. Lanval is foreign, makes him an outcast. Woman in tent in field ami . Feys use people, sometimes exchange favors but always at a price. Mystical, fey, otherworldly descriptions of her wealth and beauty. Paradox white indicates purity/virginity, but she is simultaneously portrayed as a seductress. Not the same accusation she later tells king arthur, she accuses lanval of coming onto her. Usually portrayed as strong/virtuous; however she has a wandering eye i. e. - lanval must defend his honor/loyalty to the kingdom. Either gonna be hanged, decapitated, or burnt at the stake.
