TheTheSong Song

of of RolandRoland

The earliest extant The earliest extant poem of substantial poem of substantial length in Old French length in Old French and the best known and the best known ““chanson de gestechanson de geste” ” (song of heroic deeds)(song of heroic deeds)

Chanson de gesteChanson de geste is a is a French type of medieval French type of medieval narrative poem, intended to narrative poem, intended to be sung or chanted and be sung or chanted and purporting to have some purporting to have some basis in French history.basis in French history.

The Song of Roland (The Song of Roland (La La Chanson de RolandChanson de Roland) ) describes a series of describes a series of fabulous exploits, fabulous exploits, usually involving usually involving Charlemagne and his Charlemagne and his PaladinsPaladins, the , the Twelve Twelve PeersPeers

PaladinPaladinss are are palace officials palace officials or or protagonists of protagonists of a cause.a cause.

Characters:Characters:

RolandRoland – the king’s – the king’s nephew; his “right nephew; his “right hand” and renowned hand” and renowned retainer; has a horn retainer; has a horn named named OlifantOlifant whose whose distinctive blast can be distinctive blast can be recognized 30 leagues recognized 30 leagues away away

He has a sword He has a sword named named ““DurendaDurendal” l” and and Angel GabrielAngel Gabriel appears before him appears before him at critical moment at critical moment to warn and to to warn and to advise.advise.

In Italian version, In Italian version, he was called he was called OrlandoOrlando. In . In Spanish version, Spanish version, he was called he was called RoldanRoldan..

CharlemagneCharlemagne –the king –the king of France and the of France and the leader of crusades leader of crusades who favored Roland; who favored Roland; in French history, he in French history, he was known as Charles was known as Charles the Greatthe Great

GanelonGanelon – Roland’s – Roland’s stepfather who was stepfather who was the cause of the cause of destruction of Roland’s destruction of Roland’s army; conspires with army; conspires with the King Marsilla to the King Marsilla to destroy Rolanddestroy Roland

OliverOliver – Roland’s – Roland’s best friend; brave best friend; brave but unlike Roland, but unlike Roland, he was prudent he was prudent but blunt in his but blunt in his manner and action manner and action

King MarsillaKing Marsilla – the – the king who did the king who did the conspiracy with conspiracy with GanelonGanelon

AldeAlde – the love – the love interest of Rolandinterest of Roland

The epic was divided into The epic was divided into three parts:three parts:

1.1. The Treachery of GanelonThe Treachery of Ganelon

2.2. Roncesvalles – the pass Roncesvalles – the pass where the battle is foughtwhere the battle is fought

3.3. The Reprisals – shows The Reprisals – shows Charlemagne’s revengeCharlemagne’s revenge

Subject Matter:Subject Matter:

Customs, manners Customs, manners and attitudes of and attitudes of French at their dayFrench at their day

Feudal relationships Feudal relationships and feudal loyaltiesand feudal loyalties

The crusades and the The crusades and the infidelinfidel

Warrior virtue of valorWarrior virtue of valor

Feudal virtue of loyaltyFeudal virtue of loyalty

Christian virtue of Christian virtue of humilityhumility

The Cross versus The Cross versus the Crescentthe Crescent

The victory of The victory of the Cross over the Cross over the Crescentthe Crescent

Conflicts:Conflicts:

Between Christian Between Christian truth and heathen truth and heathen errorerror

Between Ganelon and Between Ganelon and Roland as individualsRoland as individuals

Symbolisms:Symbolisms:

CharlemagneCharlemagne – is a – is a symbol of feudal symbol of feudal system and his countrysystem and his country

GanelonGanelon – is a symbol of – is a symbol of treachery and betrayal, treachery and betrayal, envy and jealousyenvy and jealousy

RolandRoland – is a symbol – is a symbol of private revenge of private revenge and the public good and the public good which treachery which treachery endangers; also a endangers; also a symbol of divine symbol of divine justice and braveryjustice and bravery

OliverOliver – is a – is a symbol of symbol of wisdom and wisdom and prudenceprudence

The The CrossCross symbolizes symbolizes ChristianityChristianity while while the the CrescentCrescent symbolizes symbolizes MoslemMoslem faith. faith.

Roland sufered his Roland sufered his own “own “hamartiahamartia” .” .

The tragic hero The tragic hero ought to bring ought to bring misfortune upon misfortune upon himself.himself.

Roland is responsible Roland is responsible for his own downfall.for his own downfall.

The hero was blinded The hero was blinded with his own desire with his own desire and recklessness.and recklessness.

Roland’s hamartia:Roland’s hamartia:

1.1.Roland’s pursuit Roland’s pursuit of glory gave of glory gave tragic results of tragic results of his recklessnes.his recklessnes.

2. 2. Roland’s Roland’s desire for future desire for future military fame military fame induced him to induced him to disregard the disregard the immediate crisis.immediate crisis.

3. 3. Roland’s choice Roland’s choice to risk destruction to risk destruction rather than the rather than the possibility of possibility of being called a being called a coward.coward.

At the opening of the At the opening of the poem, he is proud, poem, he is proud, insensitive and insensitive and headstrong. At the headstrong. At the end, he recognizes end, he recognizes that his behavior that his behavior was not heroic.was not heroic.

The aspect of The aspect of plot that was plot that was used was used was recognitionrecognition or or anagnorisisanagnorisis..

The epic shows the The epic shows the social ordersocial order in in France during the France during the middle ages and middle ages and that is to fight for that is to fight for GodGod, , kingking and and country.country.

The glory of Christian The glory of Christian France is shown in France is shown in having having CharlemagneCharlemagne as the symbol of as the symbol of these loyalty, these loyalty, religiousreligious, , ffeudaleudal and and nationalnational..

Themes:Themes:

Right and truth Right and truth triumph over the evil triumph over the evil and sin.and sin.

God’s will will manifest God’s will will manifest itself through combat itself through combat or duet.or duet.

Medias resMedias res was used was used (i.e. the action begins in (i.e. the action begins in the middle) Right away, the middle) Right away, readers are told that readers are told that Charlemagne has just Charlemagne has just finished his Spanish finished his Spanish campaign and is about campaign and is about to return home.to return home.