Dr. R. James Goldstein
English Department
Auburn University

 1.  Definitions of Romance
 

• Romance: original meaning a linguistic term: romans referring to the vernacular languages descended from Latin in former Roman Empire (cf. romance languages)

• Later in Middle Ages the term came to be applied to any writing in various romance dialects, but especially to long verse narratives, later also prose, devoted to chivalric adventures and tales of love.  Middle English borrows the term romance from Old French.  Other quasi-generic terms also used interchangeably in Old French and Middle English: histoire/story; geste.

• At no time in the Middle Ages was there a body of  theory that defined a specific literary genre of romance.   A modern critical construction based on perceived characteristics of medieval literary texts.  The word also used to describe other literary texts (Greek; Renaissance; gothic revival 19th c; 20c popular genre (Harlequin Romance).

2.  Emergence of Romance: Northern France, mid-12th c

• Earlier vernacular genres sung: chanson de geste; lyric (especially troubadours)

•  Romance 1st medieval literary genre meant to be read by individual reader (or aloud to a group):invites greater self-consciousness of role of author, fiction, audience

• Form: octosyllabic couplet: inobtrusive.  No literary prose until 13th c

• Content: less epic/martial than chansons de geste; brand new interest in women and love (in part inspired by southern lyric tradition; in part from study of Ovid and other Roman poets.

3.  First Generation of Medieval Romances
(Based on classical or pseudo-classical sources (Latin epic).  Very “clerkly”; claims to be writing history)

• Roman d’Alexandre (3 versions 1130-1190, based on a variety of legendary sources)

• Roman de Thèbes c. 1155 (based on Statius, Thebaid)

• Roman d’Eneas c. 1160  (based on Virgil, Aeneid); devotes greater attention to Dido episode than original

• Roman de Troie c. 1160, by Benoît de Sainte-Maure, based on a variety of legendary sources

• Roman de Brut, 1155  by Anglo-Norman poet Wace, written for Henry II; based on Historia regum Brittaniae (History of the Kings of Britain) (1136), by Geoffrey of Monmouth  Geoffrey's book is the most important source for medieval Arthurian legends (shaped earlier materials into coherent narrative).

4.  The Next Generation (last part of 12 c)
The course begins with Chrétien de Troye, the most influential writer for later development of Arthurian saga.  His work gets imitated and extended throughout Western Europe, including adaptations in German, English, and Norse.