Marie de France 1155 1189 Biography Earliest female

Marie de France 1155 -1189

Biography • Earliest female poet in France • Her name • Educated • Henry II • Normandy area

Works • Lais (1155 -1170) • 12 lais • Prefaced with the information that she is translating many of them from Breton lais for the first time. • Ysopet (1167 -1189) • First known translation of Aesop’s Fables into French • Espurgatoire de Saint Patrice (1189) • Legend of the Purgatory of Saint Patrick • Journey through purgatory

What is a lai exctly? • Meant to be sung • Octosyllabic rhyming couplets • Characterized by adventure and romance • Elements of the fantastic • Marie de France’s particular lais: • Romance with an ominous atmosphere • Focus on feelings of the characters rather than the story itself

Le Laustic Lanval • Knights of St. Malo • Knight of King Arthur’s court • Rossignol • Secret love • Fate of love • Accusations of homosexuality • Why this is characteristic of Marie de France. • Loss of love • Reuniting of the lovers

Le Bisclavret Les Deux Amants • Werewolf curse • Set in Normandy • Barron of Brittany • Mountain test • Clothing • Secret affair • Wife’s betrayal • Potion • King’s protection • Fate • Revenge • “The Mountain of the Two Lovers”

Guigemer Yonec • Knight of Brittany • Rich landowner • Disinterested in love • Imprisoned 7 years • Deer’s curse • Knight must prove faith • Mysterious ship • Razors • Locked up • Blood trail • Chastity belt • Ring & Sword • Meriaduc • Son: Yonec

Conclusion • Reoccurring themes in the lais of Marie de France.

Works Cited • Bishop, Morris and Rivers, Kenneth T. , eds. A Survey of French Literature. Newburyport: Focus Publishing, 2005. Print. • Les Lais De Marie De France. Trans. Paul Tuffrau. Paris. 1959 • The Broadway Anthology of British Literature. Peterborough: Broadview Press, 2011 Print.