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The Role of Women in the Rise of the Vernacular

The Role of Women in the Rise of the Vernacular WO INTERRELATED cultural shifts that had an extraordinary impact on literature began in Western Europe at about the mid-point of the twelfth century. The first was a shift from an essentially heroic culture to what has come to be known as courtly culture. The second was a gradual move from Latin to the vernacular as the primary written literary language of the courts. In both of these phenomena women played a critical role. No single literary work has better captured these dual and interwoven trends than the Roman de Brut, the earliest Arthurian text composed in the vernacular. Written by Wace in 1155 and presented to Eleanor of Aquitaine, it heralded a new inclusion of women in important literary roles. The shift from heroic to courtly culture is well illustrated by a particular scene that occurs in lines 10739-72 of the Roman de Brut. Messengers from Rome have arrived at the court of Arthur to demand that he come to Rome to account for taking tributes from lands that, they contend, are rightfully Rome’s. Arthur’s knights react with anger, but, as a good lord, Arthur calms them and calls together his counselors for advice.2 The first to speak http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Comparative Literature Duke University Press

The Role of Women in the Rise of the Vernacular

McCASH, JUNE HALL
Comparative Literature , Volume 60 (1) – Jan 1, 2008
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Publisher
Duke University Press
Copyright
Copyright 2008 by University of Oregon
ISSN
0010-4124
eISSN
1945-8517
DOI
10.1215/-60-1-45
Publisher site
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Abstract

WO INTERRELATED cultural shifts that had an extraordinary impact on literature began in Western Europe at about the mid-point of the twelfth century. The first was a shift from an essentially heroic culture to what has come to be known as courtly culture. The second was a gradual move from Latin to the vernacular as the primary written literary language of the courts. In both of these phenomena women played a critical role. No single literary work has better captured these dual and interwoven trends than the Roman de Brut, the earliest Arthurian text composed in the vernacular. Written by Wace in 1155 and presented to Eleanor of Aquitaine, it heralded a new inclusion of women in important literary roles. The shift from heroic to courtly culture is well illustrated by a particular scene that occurs in lines 10739-72 of the Roman de Brut. Messengers from Rome have arrived at the court of Arthur to demand that he come to Rome to account for taking tributes from lands that, they contend, are rightfully Rome’s. Arthur’s knights react with anger, but, as a good lord, Arthur calms them and calls together his counselors for advice.2 The first to speak

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Comparative Literature – Duke University Press

Published: Jan 1, 2008

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