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Matter of Britain: themes and bibliography

Filed Under ( ) by Lex Luthor on Sunday, April 11, 2010

Posted at : 5:40 PM


Introduction:

The Matter of Britain is historically linked to the birth of the novel genre in literature: it belongs to the French literature of the origins written in the "oïl" language. This literature includes the "Chansons de Geste" ("Songs of heroic deeds") and the "Romances".
The literature of the "langues d'oïl" is born in the Northern France, and it was strictly connected with the nobility and the courts.






"Chansons de Geste":

The "Songs of heroic deeds" are epic poems, and their production began in the second half of the XI century. These songs are composed by the so-called "Carolingian cycle" or the "Matter of France"; there are almost a hundred songs in total, and in them is the celebration of three dynastical cycles: the royal cycle, about Charlemagne and his descendants; that of William of Orange ("Chanson de Willelme"); and finally that of the rebel vassals (like Isembard and others).
The ideals that are exalted in the "Chansons de Geste" are mainly the epical defense of the Fatherland,  and the ideologies of the feudal nobility and of the chivalry. Strong it is also the hagiographical component, that is the exaltation of the virtues of the leading characters: and the main of them is Roland, the hero par excellence of these compositions.

The older, important and famous among the "Songs of heroic deeds" it is the "Chanson de Roland"
(1070-1080), attributed to Turold. In this song is commemorated an historical event: the distruction of
the Charlemagne's rear-guard at Roncesvalles in 778, when the frankish army was crossing the Pyrenees for to come back in France after a fruitless expedition in Spain.   

"Romances":



The "Romances" instead sing about adventures, quests, loves, and fantasy. This genre is born almost a century after the carolingian epic, and it reflects a noble society much more refined and literary.
It is characterized by a broad narration, and it is not related to collective military exploits as in the epic genre of the "Chansons de Geste", but to adventures of single individuals or small groups of knights.



These quests include both historical and wonderful elements. The audience of this "new" genre were mostly the frequenters of the feudal courts: in fact it seems that this genre was from its beginning in writing, and not oral like the "Songs of heroic deeds".
Being these pure literary works, the public was obligatorily elitarian: that is, men able to read. In this respect it must be noted that the authors of the "Romances" are known, instead those of the "Chansons de Geste" are almost always anonyms. The public of these literary works can found examples of correct behaviour and rules of chivalry.
The themes of these compositions are mainly the magic, the love, and the neverending, continuous and eternal wanderings and exploits of the warriors.

The subjects of the romances are two: the "Classical Cycle" and the "Matter of Britain", also known as the "Arthurian Cycle".


In the "Classical Cycle" there are romances inspired to stories, legends, and myths belonging to the classical antiquity, like the fall of Troy, the conquests of Alexander the Great, and many others. The authors of these poems were cultured poets who knew well the latin literature. The most famous texts pertaining to this Cycle are the "Romance of Alexander", the "Romance of Troy", and the "Romance of Thebes".

The "Matter of Britain" is based on the heritage of the myths of the ancient Celts.
The leading characters of this corpus of legends are King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table.
The first written reference to the "Matter of Britain" is found in the historical latin text "Historia Regum Britanniae" ("History of the Kings of Britain", XII century) by Geoffrey of Monmouth, who was at the service of King Henry I of England. But it was Chrétien de Troyes to give to this theme a poetical arrangement, developing so the entire Cycle and genre.
Chrétien de Troyes is the greatest medieval poet Dante before. Little is known of his life: he was a native of Champagne, and he distinguished himself at the court of Henry I and his wife Maria, in the city of Troyes. There he has lived and has created his works for most of his life, until he went to Flanders. This is the last known information about his life. Also about his literary works there are few sure information: five works are attributed to him, and these are the "Erèc et Enide", the "Cligès", the "Yvain ou Le Chevalier au Lion", the "Lancelot"(unfinished), and the "Perceval ou Le Conte du Graal"(unfinished).




The characters of the "Matter of Britain" are heroic knights, whose superiority is reflected not only in their physical strength and in the defense of values, but especially in the fidelity to their own individual destiny: these heroes are indeed exemplary figures who accept their own fate with absolute determination and responsibility.
Often they face difficult choices, and through the adventures and their own individual abilities, the knights stand out from the rest of the community.
These warriors are in continuous and perpetual search of something ( that can be the Grail, the beloved, etc. ), and many are the obstacles and the impediments they encounter in their path: the grandeur of a knight is exactly in the tenacity with which he tackles his absolute search.



Related to the context of the "Matter of Britain" are also the "Lais": short narrative works with various lyrical elements.


































The Lais of Marie de France: Text and Context

Lays of Marie De France and Other French Legends

Narrative technique in the Lais of Marie de France;: Themes and variations (North Carolina studies in the Romance languages and literatures)

Among the various authors it must be remembered Maria of France (XII century), who lived at the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine. She wrote twelve "Lais" focusing mainly on the love theme, all of exceptional beauty.



Bibliography of the "Matter of Britain":

-"Historia Britonum"- (IX century)

Written by Nennius. The oldest surviving text that identifies Arthur with the Briton leader who defeated the Saxons at Badon.

















-"Annales Cambriae"- (950)

Welsh chronicles. The oldest surviving source that mentions the death of Arthur and Mordred in combat.
















-Geoffrey of Monmouth-

"Profetiae Merlini";


















"Historia Regum Britanniae" ("History of the Kings of Britain", 1136): it contains the oldest surviving chronicle of the exploits of Arthur;

















"Vita Merlini" (1148): a text based on Welsh traditions.

















-Caradoc of Llancarfan-

Welsh historian, author of the "Vita Gildae" (1130), that includes the story of the kidnapping of Guenevere.




-William of Malmesbury -

Norman historian, author of the "De gestis Regum Anglorum" (1140), and of the "De antiquitate Glastoniensis".

































-"Roman de Brut"- (1155)

Written by Robert Wace, an expanded version of the "Historia" (Geoffrey of Monmouth).















-Chrétien de Troyes-

"Erèc et Enide"



















"Cligès"

















"Yvain ou Le Chevalier au Lion"















"Lancelot"
















"Perceval ou Le Conte du Graal"
















-"Draco Normannicus"- (1170)

Written by Etienne of Rouen; is a satirical version of the return of Arthur.














 


-"Tristant"- (1170)

Written by the German poet Eilhart von Oberge.




Norman poet. Author of a romance about Tristan (1190), of which only fragments remain.

German poet, author of the "Erek", a text partly based on the "Erèc et Enide" by Chrétien de Troyes; he has written also the "Iwein", based on the "Yvain ou Le Chevalier au Lion" by Chrétien.


Written by U. von Zatzikhoven.


French poet, author of the "Joseph" and of the "Merlin".


Author of the epic poem "Brut", a text that follows the "Roman de Brut" by Wace.



A collection of ancient Welsh poems.




Literary work that is a continuation of the "Joseph" and of the "Merlin" by Robert de Boron.
-"Perlesvaus"- (1210)

A work that recounts the adventures of Perceval, Lancelot and Gawain in the search of the Grail.

-"Parzival"- (1210)

Written by Wolfram von Eschenbach.


Written by the German poet Gottfried von Strassburg.











-Lancelot-Graal- (1215/1235)

Name given to the most comprehensive and important cycle on the "Matter of Britain".
It is divided into five parts:

."L'estoire du Saint-Graal": it is the story of the origins of the Grail, how it was brought to Britain;

."Merlin": it is a kind of prose version of the "Merlin" by Robert de Boron, and also its continuation; it is reported the story of Merlin and Arthur's youth;

."Lancelot": here are told the adventures of Lancelot and of the other knights of the Round Table, and also of Galaad.

."La queste du Saint-Graal": the knights' search for the Grail and the achievement of Galaad;

."Mort Artu": the fulfillment of the fate of Arthur and of his knights;

-"Le Roman de Tristan de Léonois"- (1250)

-"Book of Taliesin"- (1270)

Collection of ancient Welsh poems. Taliesin Was a famous bard of the sixth century, and probably he is the author of some parts of this work.
-"Meliadus"- (1271)

Written by Rusticiano from Pisa.
-"La Tavola Ritonda"- (1295)

















-"Sir Tristem"- (XIV century)

-"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"- (XIV century)

English alliterative romance.
-"Mabinogion"-

Welsh collection of eleven stories, preserved in the "White Book of Rhydderch" (1325), and in the "Red Book of Hergest" (1400).


English alliterative romance.



-"Le Morte Darthur"- (1485)

Written by Thomas Malory.
      

  
        
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