Lanval (Lai)

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Lanval is the title of a Lais (short poem in French on a Celtic subject) by Marie de France (* ~ 1135, † ~ 1200). The Lais deal with fairy tale motifs or myths from Celtic Britain . The twelve lais in her collection were recorded by Marie de France around 1170. A recurring combination of joy and sorrow is typical of her poems.

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Sir Gawain

Lanval is a handsome and brave knight at the court of King Arthur in Carlisle , but not popular with all knights. One day he sees a beautiful lady in a river who invites him into her splendid tent because she wants to check out his merits. The two fall in love and live together for a night like man and woman. In the morning, Lady Lanval obliges not to tell anyone about it, and then she will return again and again and make him rich and happy. Lanval promises this and returns to the court where his newfound wealth creates friends and envious people. Queen Gwenhwyfar , Arthur's wife, tries to seduce him, but he refuses on the grounds that he is loyal to an even more beautiful lady. Angry at this remark, Gwenhwyfar complains to the King that Lanval insulted her with these words. At the trial of this incident, Lanval, true to his promise, refuses to reveal the lady's name and is to be convicted. Only Sir Gawain still stands by him. Then the lady appears on a white horse and now everyone can see that she is actually the most beautiful. Lanval is acquitted and rides to Avalon with his lady - the two were never seen again.

Versions in other languages

Sir Lanval was published in Middle English around 1340 and later the Reimer story Sir Lamb [e] well in the 16th century. In Scandinavia in the 13th century, this Lai was retold under the title Januals lióð .

Modern reception

Eduard Stucken created the drama Lanvâl in 1903, which was staged with great success at the Burgtheater in Vienna in 1911 . The content follows the Lai of Marie de France very freely and, in contrast to this, ends in a catastrophe.

See also

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Ray Dunning: The Celts. P. 96 f.
  2. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Nachantike Keltenrezeption. Pp. 217, 222.
  3. ↑ Helmut Birkhan: Nachantike Keltenrezeption. P. 304 f.