Abstract
It is a well-known fact that medieval literature generally does not depict characters in what we would call nowadays a “realistic” manner. The traits of medieval characters tend to be either embellished or blackened, thus allowing the author of the text to convey a moral or political message. For instance, what interested the anonymous author of the ninth-century hagiographical poem “La Cantilène de Sainte Eulalie” was the moral significance of Eulalie’s life, rather than her actual biography. The same could be said about the main hero of the “Song of Roland”, whose exemplary behavior was supposed to inspire medieval knights. However, this lack of interest in an individual’s actual biography changes in the early thirteenth century. In my study, I focus on two primary sources, Geoffrey of Villehardouin’s “Conquest of Constantinople” and the anonymous “Story of William Marshal,” which in my opinion exemplify a new type of history-writing. While not entirely shunning epic or quasi epic topoi, the authors of these two texts attempted to move away from the model of the typical epic hero—sublime yet hyperbolic. Both texts provide precise chronological indications in order to anchor the narrative more solidly within a historical—rather than epic—timeline. The type of knight that they describe is also different: still brave yet more complex, less scripted and therefore more “realistic.” Thus, I argue that in the thirteenth century, French history-writing seems increasingly interested in the exploits of actual historical figures (rather than legendary heroes), which represents a paradigmatic shift in medieval historiography.
Presenters
Cristian BratuProfessor of French, Division Director for French and Italian; Associate Chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, Baylor University, Texas, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Biography, Autobiography, French Medieval Literature, History, Chronicles
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