Lanval is a narrative poem, or Breton lay, written by Marie de France. In this piece of literature, Marie employs common components of lays including references to the supernatural, romance, and chivalry. These themes, as well as Marie’s interpretation of the tale, offer readers valuable insight into Medieval life. Lanval may be a classic example of a romantic lay, but it manages to turn the expected “knight in shining armor” trope upside down by giving the power of the narrative to the women of this story. Marie’s translation of this classic oral tale is a light-hearted reminder of the power of true love.
Not much is known of the author Marie de France. Although her name indicates that she was born in France, her writings imply that she must have spent a significant amount of time in England. Her collection of twelve lays were written in eight-syllable couplets and are a testament to her skillful writing ability. In contrast to Marie’s scholarly talents, most noblewomen prepared themselves for marriage and motherhood. It is no small feat that she managed to engineer …show more content…
He has been accused in your court—
I don’t want him to suffer for what he said; you should know that the queen was in the wrong.’ (615-620)
Her apparent beauty and her declaration to the court prove that Lanval was being truthful in defending himself from King Arthur’s queen. Without the actions of these two women, Lanval would have presumably continued his life of exclusion.
A compelling love story will always draw admiration. Luckily, in Lanval readers are given much more than your typical love story. The beautiful fairy queen falls in love with the handsome knight, and their love manages to overcome the obstacles that a jealous queen and dubious kingdom provide. Marie de France expertly crafted this tale of the triumph of true love with rich details of Medieval life and its hierarchy. It is a timeless tale of happily ever
Not much is known of the author Marie de France. Although her name indicates that she was born in France, her writings imply that she must have spent a significant amount of time in England. Her collection of twelve lays were written in eight-syllable couplets and are a testament to her skillful writing ability. In contrast to Marie’s scholarly talents, most noblewomen prepared themselves for marriage and motherhood. It is no small feat that she managed to engineer …show more content…
He has been accused in your court—
I don’t want him to suffer for what he said; you should know that the queen was in the wrong.’ (615-620)
Her apparent beauty and her declaration to the court prove that Lanval was being truthful in defending himself from King Arthur’s queen. Without the actions of these two women, Lanval would have presumably continued his life of exclusion.
A compelling love story will always draw admiration. Luckily, in Lanval readers are given much more than your typical love story. The beautiful fairy queen falls in love with the handsome knight, and their love manages to overcome the obstacles that a jealous queen and dubious kingdom provide. Marie de France expertly crafted this tale of the triumph of true love with rich details of Medieval life and its hierarchy. It is a timeless tale of happily ever