Chapter II: Book I: Mediaeval Literature

CHAP. I. THE ORIGINS 1

Relation of French to Latin. Influence of Latin Literature. Early Monuments. Dialects and Provincial Literatures. Beginning of Literature proper. Cantilenae. Trouveres and Jongleurs.

II. CHANSONS DE GESTES 10

Origin of Chansons de Gestes. Definition. Period of Composition. Chanson de Roland. Amis et Amiles. Other principal Chansons. Social and Literary Characteristics. Authorship. Style and Language. Later History.

III. PROVENCAL LITERATURE 26

Langue d'Oc. Range and characteristics. Periods of Provencal Literature. First Period. Second Period. Forms of Troubadour Poetry. Third Period. Literary Relation of Provencal and French. Defects of Provencal Literature.

IV. ROMANCES OF ARTHUR AND OF ANTIQUITY 34

The Tale of Arthur. Its Origin. Order of French Arthurian Cycle. Chrestien de Troyes. Spirit and Literary value of Arthurian Romances. Romances of Antiquity. Chanson d'Alixandre. Roman de Troie. Other Romances on Classical subjects.

V. FABLIAUX. THE ROMAN DU RENART 47

Foreign Elements in Early French Literature. The Esprit Gaulois makes its appearance. Definition of Fabliaux. Subjects and character of Fabliaux. Sources of Fabliaux. The Roman du Renart. The Ancien Renart. Le Couronnement Renart. Renart le Nouvel. Renart le Contrefait. Fauvel.

VI. EARLY LYRICS 62

Early and Later Lyrics. Origins of Lyric. Romances and Pastourelles. Thirteenth Century. Changes in Lyric. Traces of Lyric in the Thirteenth Century. Quesnes de Bethune. Thibaut de Champagne. Minor Singers. Adam de la Halle. Ruteboeuf. Lais. Marie de France.

VII. SERIOUS AND ALLEGORICAL POETRY 75

Verse Chronicles. Miscellaneous Satirical Verse. Didactic verse. Philippe de Thaun. Moral and Theological verse. Allegorical verse. The Roman de la Rose. Popularity of the Roman de la Rose. Imitations.

VIII. ROMANS D'AVENTURES 91

Distinguishing features of Romans d'Aventures. Looser application of the term. Classes of Romans d'Aventures. Adenes le Roi. Raoul de Houdenc. Chief Romans d'Aventures. General Character. Last Chansons. Baudouin de Sebourc.

IX. LATER SONGS AND POEMS 100

The Artificial Forms of Northern France. General Character. Varieties. Jehannot de Lescurel. Guillaume de Machault. Eustache Deschamps. Froissart. Christine de Pisan. Alain Chartier.

X. THE DRAMA 110

Origins of the Drama. Earliest Vernacular Dramatic Forms. Mysteries and Miracles. Miracles de la Vierge. Heterogeneous Character of Mysteries. Argument of a Miracle Play. Profane Drama. Adam de la Halle. Monologues. Farces. Moralities. Soties. Profane Mysteries. Societies of Actors.

XI. PROSE CHRONICLES 127

Beginning of Prose Chronicles. Grandes Chroniques de France. Villehardouin. Minor Chroniclers between Villehardouin and Joinville. Joinville. Froissart. Fifteenth-Century Chroniclers.

XII. MISCELLANEOUS PROSE 140

General use of Prose. Prose Sermons. St. Bernard. Maurice de Sully. Later Preachers. Gerson. Moral and Devotional Treatises. Translators. Political and Polemical Works. Codes and Legal Treatises. Miscellanies and Didactic Works. Fiction. Antoine de la Salle.

INTERCHAPTER I. SUMMARY OF MEDIAEVAL LITERATURE 151