The song of roland

Little Background
(FORM)

- La Chanson de Roland, English The Song of Roland, Old French epic (epic, long

narrative poem recounting heroic deeds) and medieval poem (Medieval poetry is a type
of literary verse that was written during the Middle Ages and that has specific subject
matter relevant to this time period. This kind of poetry most often covers topics of
religious devotion and of courtly love, were both had great deal of importance in
medieval society.) that is probably the earliest chanson de geste ((French: “song of
deeds”) any of the Old French epic poems forming the core of the Charlemagne legends
(historical story of Charles the great) and is considered the masterpiece of the genre
(Extraordinary skill). It was written to commemorate the Battle of Roncevaux
(Rosvo) Pass fought between Roland and Basques. Song of Roland is also
considered the oldest epic in French Literature.

It was originally sung by performers called jongleurs (an itinerant medieval entertainer

proficient in juggling, acrobatics, music, and recitation.) who travelled from town to
town to entertain crowds at fairs and festivals. The poem is written in verse, or poetic
form, with stanzas of varying length. The stanzas in this medieval poem, as well as other
medieval epic poems, are called laisses(layses). The laisses don't follow a rhyming
pattern but are characterized by repetition and parallelisms.

The epic itself went on to become widely popular and was later romanticize
as a conflict between Christians and Muslims during the Crusades. The poem
reflects the infusing of the Christian tradition onto the older, pagan traditions, and the
"baptizing" of the virtues of heroism with a Christian meaning and value.
CHARACTER
Charlemagne
Historically, Charlemagne (742?-814), was king of the Franks and a committed, militant Christian. In 800
he was crowned emperor by the pope, legitimizing his rule over the former Roman empire in western
Europe. After his death, he became legendary; it is this legendary Charlemagne, the most perfect
Christian king, symbol of the spirit of the Crusades, and favorite of heaven, who is presented in The Song
of Roland as leader of the Frankish troops and Roland's uncle and avenger. His name means literally,
"Charles the Great."
 Roland
Roland is only mentioned in passing in the historical records, as the prefect of the Breton Marches, among
those who fell at Roncesvals. In The Song of Roland, however, he is the hero. He is one of the twelve
peers of France, Charlemagne's nephew and favorite, a skillful and extremely bold warrio
Olivier
A gallant warrior, one of the twelve peers of France, and Roland's best friend, Olivier is the protagonist's
foil, setting off Roland's daring with his own prudence: "Roland is bold, Olivier is wise, and both of them
are marvelously brave" (87.1093-1094). The greatest and most tender of companions. Olivier, along with
Roland and Turpin, is taken back to France for burial by Charlemagne's men.
Turpin

The archbishop Turpin, who fights and dies alongside Roland at Roncesvals, represents Christendom's
turn towards militant activity at the time of the Crusades.

Ganelon

Ganelon is a well-respected Frankish baron and Roland's stepfather.

Thierry

Thierry is the single dissenting voice at the council of barons convened to judge Ganelon.

Pinabel

Ganelon's closest companion and a mighty and eloquent Frankish baron, Pinabel defends Ganelon at his
trial.

Naimes

The chronicles say nothing about Duke Naimes other than that he was a Gascon lord who paid homage to
Charlemagne, but he became known as a wise advisor in medieval legends.

Oger

The Danish count Oger is one of Charlemagne's fiercest and most reliable vassals.

Gautier

Count Gautier of Hum is among the twelve barons Roland picks for his rear guard. Gautier is to lead a
thousand Franks in scouting around the hilltops and ravines around the pass. He is the third to last to
perish at Roncesvals, just before Turpin and Roland.

Basan and Basil

Some time earlier on in Charlemagne's Spanish campaign than the point at which The Song of
Roland begins, Marsilla had sent an embassy of pagans carrying olive branches over to Charlemagne with
a peace offer. Charlemagne then sent two of his counts, Basan and Basil, over to the pagans to negotiate
and the pagans chopped off their heads

Alde
Alde the Beautiful is Olivier's sister and Roland's betrothed. She dies of grief the moment she hears of
Roland's death.
Baligant

At the beginning of Charlemagne's campaign in Spain, Marsilla sends for help from Baligant, the emir of
Babylon and the noblest that Islam has to offer.

Marsilla

Marsilla is the pagan king of Saragossa, the last Spanish city to hold out against the Frankish army.

Bramimonde

Marsilla's queen Bramimonde falls into a deep despair and feels utterly disgraced after her husband's
defeat by the Franks.

Blancandrin

The shrewd pagan Blancandrin is one of Marsilla's most useful vassals.

Aelroth

Aelroth is Marsilla's fiery nephew and leads the Saracen ambush squad along with a dozen Muslim lords,
paralleling the leadership of the Frankish rear guard by Charlemagne's nephew Roland and the twelve
peers. Fittingly, he is killed by Roland at Roncesvals.

Falsaron

One of the twelve Saracen lords picked to battle the twelve Frankish peers at Roncesvals, Falsaron is
Marsilla's brother. His forehead, we are told, is "a half-foot wide" (94.1218). He is soon killed by Olivier.

Corsablis

King Corsablis from Barbary is an evil magician and one of the twelve Saracen lords picked to battle the
twelve Frankish peers at Roncesvals. He is soon killed by Turpin. The implication that this expert in black
magic is the Islamic equivalent of the archbishop is typical of the way that Muslims are depicted in The
Song of Roland.

Margariz
Margariz of Seville is "loved by all the ladies, he's so handsome; / not one can look his way without a
glow, / nor, looking at him, keep herself from giggling" (77.957-959).

Jurfaleu
Marsilla's only son, Jurfaleu the Blond, is killed at Roncesvals; his head is chopped off by Roland.
The epic poem the Aenied begins after the fall of troy
On the Mediterranean Sea, Aeneas and his fellow Trojans flee from their home city of
Troy, which has been destroyed by the Greeks. They sail for Italy, where Aeneas is
destined to found Rome. As they near their destination, a fierce storm throws them off
course and lands them in Carthage. In the introduction the trojan fleet carrying the
surviving warriors is being battered by a storm is the Mediterranean sea south of Sicily.
Sent by Juno queen of the gods who Holds the grudge against the trojans and their
leader Aeneas, the sea god Neptune guides their ships to shore they discover they
are near the city of Carthage rules by queen dido who welcomes them. Aeneas relates
to Dido the long and painful story of his group’s travels thus far.
Aeneas tells of the sack of Troy that ended the Trojan War after ten years of Greek
siege. In the final campaign, the Trojans were tricked when they accepted into their city
walls a wooden horse that harbored several Greek soldiers in its hollow belly. He tells
how he escaped the burning city with his father, Anchises; his son, Ascanius; and the
hearth gods that represent their fallen city. Assured by the gods that a glorious future
awaited him in Italy, he set sail with a fleet containing the surviving citizens of Troy.
Aeneas relates the ordeals they faced on their journey. Twice they attempted to build a
new city, only to be driven away by bad omens and plagues. Harpies, creatures that are
part woman and part bird, cursed them, but they also encountered friendly countrymen
unexpectedly. Finally, after the loss of Anchises and a bout of terrible weather, they
made their way to Carthage.

Impressed by Aeneas’s exploits and sympathetic to his suffering, Dido, a Phoenician

princess who fled her home and founded Carthage after her brother murdered her
husband, falls in love with Aeneas. They live together as lovers for a period, until the
gods remind Aeneas of his duty to find a new city. He determines to set sail once again.
Dido is devastated by his departure and kills herself by ordering a huge pyre to be built
with Aeneas’s castaway possessions, climbing upon it, and stabbing herself with the
sword Aeneas leaves behind.

As the Trojans make for Italy, bad weather blows them to Sicily, where they hold funeral
games for the dead Anchises. The women, tired of the voyage, begin to burn the ships,
but a downpour puts the fires out. Some of the travel-weary stay behind, while Aeneas,
reinvigorated after his father visits him in a dream, takes the rest on toward Italy. Once
there, Aeneas descends into the underworld, guided by the Sibyl of Cumae, to visit his
father. He is shown a pageant of the future history and heroes of Rome, which helps
him to understand the importance of his mission. Aeneas returns from the underworld,
and the Trojans continue up the coast to the region of Latium.

The arrival of the Trojans in Italy begins peacefully. King Latinus, the Italian ruler,
extends his hospitality, hoping that Aeneas will prove to be the foreigner whom,
according to a prophecy, his daughter Lavinia is supposed to marry. But Latinus wife,
Amata, has other ideas. She means for Lavinia to marry Turnus, a local suitor. Amata
and Turnus cultivate enmity toward the newly arrived Trojans. Meanwhile, Ascanius
hunts a stag that was a pet of the local herdsmen.
A fight breaks out, and several people are killed. Turnus, riding this current of anger,
begins a war.
Aeneas, at the suggestion of the river god Tiberinus, sails north up the Tiber to seek
military support among the neighboring tribes. During this voyage, his mother, Venus,
descends to give him a new set of weapons, wrought by Vulcan. While the Trojan
leader is away, Turnus attacks. Aeneas returns to find his countrymen embroiled in
battle. Pallas, the son of Aeneas’s new ally Evander, is killed by Turnus. Aeneas flies
into a violent fury, and many more are slain by the day’s end.

The two sides agree to a truce so that they can bury the dead, and the Latin leaders
discuss whether to continue the battle. They decide to spare any further unnecessary
carnage by proposing a hand-to-hand duel between Aeneas and Turnus. When the two
leaders face off, however, the other men begin to quarrel, and full-scale battle resumes.
Aeneas is wounded in the thigh, but eventually the Trojans threaten the enemy city.
Turnus rushes out to meet Aeneas, who wounds Turnus badly. Aeneas nearly spares
Turnus but, remembering the slain Pallas, slays him instead.