Lancelot: Analysis of Setting
"Lancelot: Analysis of Setting" explores the various locations that shape the narrative and themes of the romance. The story begins in France, highlighting the significance of the author's patroness, Marie of Champagne, and introducing the theme of courtly love, which plays a crucial role in Arthurian legend. The action unfolds primarily at Arthur's court in Camelot, near Caerleon, establishing a familiar backdrop for the knights as they embark on their quest to rescue the queen. The narrative shifts to the journey through the wilderness, symbolizing the unknown challenges the knights must face.
A pivotal symbol within this setting is the bridge, representing critical choices in the knights' quests. Crossing the right bridge signifies making morally sound decisions aligned with the code of chivalry, while choosing wrongly could lead to peril. This analysis emphasizes how the settings, from the court to the wilderness, are integral to the characters' development and the overarching themes of honor and love in the narrative.
Lancelot: Analysis of Setting
First transcribed:Lancelot: Ou, Le Chevalier à la charrette, c. 1168 (English translation, 1913)
Type of work: Poetry
Type of plot: Romance
Time of work: Sixth century
Asterisk denotes entries on real places.
Places Discussed
*France
*France. The opening passages of this romance are set in France, allowing the writer to give credit to Marie of Champagne, who was his patroness and his encouragement in this effort. It also serves to lay the foundation for the introduction of the concept of courtly love into the Arthurian legends.
Camelot
Camelot. The romance’s action opens at Arthur’s court in Camelot near Caerleon, placing the knights in the proper setting before they go on their quest to accompany and rescue the queen. The major portion of the romance takes place on the road and in the wilderness, demonstrating that the knights’ path would most often lead into the world of the unknown. Perhaps the most prominent symbol associated with the setting is that of the bridge.
Bridges
Bridges. In order to realize his quest, the knight must cross the right bridge; often he is confronted by bridges that might take him in the wrong direction or even to his death. The completion of the quest demonstrates that the knight has taken the correct path and met the dictates of the code of chivalry, which are his guiding principles.
Bibliography
Brewer, Derek. “The Presentation of the Character of Lancelot: Chrétien to Malory.” In Arthurian Literature, edited by Richard Barber. Vol. 4. Totowa, N.J.: D. S. Brewer, 1984. This article discusses the character of Lancelot in relation to his portrayal in other medieval works.
Frappier, Jean. “Chrétien de Troyes.” In Arthurian Literature in the Middle Ages, edited by R. S. Loomis. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press, 1959. This is a good starting point for a study of Chrétien and deals mainly with sources and characterization.
Kelly, Douglas. Sens and Conjointure in the “Chevalier de la Charrette.” The Hague: Mouton, 1966. Kelly’s argument is that Chrétien was really in favor of adulterous courtly love and that Godefroy de Leigny finished the poem under his supervision.
Lacy, Norris J. The Craft of Chrétien de Troyes: An Essay on Narrative Art. Leiden, The Netherlands: E. J. Brill, 1980. Lacy observes that Lancelot is composed from a number of similar episodes, and he notes that the meaning can be found by a comparison of those episodes.
Loomis, Roger Sherman. Arthurian Tradition and Chrétien de Troyes. New York: Columbia University Press, 1949. Loomis shows how Chrétien’s romances were influenced by Celtic mythology. Although his conclusions have been challenged, his work is very stimulating, especially when he deals with the Sword Bridge.
Rougement, Denis de. Love in the Western World. Translated by Montgomery Belgion. New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1940. Rougement describes courtly love and argues that it is self-defeating and even masks a death wish.