Abstract

Following a short account of the main conclusions of my research on byzantine vernacular roman Velthandros and Chrysantza, this paper describes the poetic and thematic prerequisites, proposed by T. Todorov (Introduction à la littérature fantastique, Seuil, 1970) and J. Marlieu (Le fantastique, Hachette 1992), in order for a roman to be included in the genre of fantastic literature. It then shows that Velthandros and Chrysantza fulfils all these necessary conditions. If this approach is correct, the conclusion is very important. A text of the end of 12th century or the beginning of 13th century, which exploits narrative techniques that will be used only five centuries later in the gothic roman, has to occupy a distinctive place in the history of European roman.