1. The
Song
of
Roland

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

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

4. The Song of Roland (La
Chanson de Roland)
describes a series of
fabulous exploits, usually
involving Charlemagne and
his Paladins, the Twelve
Peers

5. Paladins are palace
officials or
protagonists of a
cause.

6. Characters:
Roland – the king’s nephew;
his “right hand” and
renowned retainer; has a
horn named Olifant whose
distinctive blast can be
recognized 30 leagues away

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

8. In Italian version, he
was called Orlando.
In Spanish version,
he was called
Roldan.

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

10. Ganelon – Roland’s
stepfather who was the
cause of destruction of
Roland’s army; conspires
with the King Marsilla to
destroy Roland

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

12. King Marsilla – the king
who did the conspiracy
with Ganelon
Alde – the love interest of
Roland

13. The epic was divided into three
parts:
2. The Treachery of Ganelon
3. Roncesvalles – the pass where
the battle is fought
4. The Reprisals – shows
Charlemagne’s revenge

14. Subject Matter:
Customs, manners and
attitudes of French at
their day
Feudal relationships and
feudal loyalties

15. The crusades and the
infidel
Warrior virtue of valor
Feudal virtue of loyalty
Christian virtue of humility

16. The Cross versus the
Crescent
The victory of the
Cross over the
Crescent

17. Conflicts:
Between Christian truth
and heathen error
Between Ganelon and
Roland as individuals

18. Symbolisms:
Charlemagne – is a symbol of
feudal system and his
country
Ganelon – is a symbol of
treachery and betrayal, envy
and jealousy

19. Roland – is a symbol of
private revenge and the
public good which
treachery endangers; also
a symbol of divine
justice and bravery

20. Oliver – is a
symbol of
wisdom and
prudence

21. The Cross symbolizes
Christianity while the
Crescent symbolizes
Moslem faith.

22. Roland sufered his own
“hamartia” .
The tragic hero ought
to bring misfortune
upon himself.

23. Roland is responsible
for his own downfall.
The hero was blinded
with his own desire and
recklessness.

24. Roland’s hamartia:
2. Roland’s pursuit of
glory gave tragic results
of his recklessnes.

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

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

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

28. The aspect of plot
that was used was
recognition or
anagnorisis.

29. The epic shows the
social order in France
during the middle ages
and that is to fight for
God, king and
country.

30. The glory of Christian
France is shown in
having Charlemagne as
the symbol of these
loyalty, religious, feudal
and national.

31. Themes:
Right and truth triumph
over the evil and sin.
God’s will will manifest
itself through combat or
duet.

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