The Historical Context of B\u00e9roul\u2019s Tristan et Yseut<\/i><\/p>\n
Having originated from Celtic legend and developed within the French oral tradition, Tristan et Yseut<\/i>\u00a0as told by B\u00e9roul tells the tragic love story of a Cornish knight and an Irish princess. In an attempt to help woo the fair Yseut in favor of the Cornish king Mark, the knight Tristan accidentally drinks a love potion with Yseut and falls in love with her. The two characters thus begin a scandalous love affair, which, seen as an unrepentant sin in the historical context of the story, ultimately leads to tragedy: Tristan is exiled in Brittany and dies in battle, and\u00a0the fair Yseut dies in grief by his side. The story takes place within the late twelfth century, which is often considered to be l\u2019apog\u00e9e du Moyen-\u00c2ge\u2014<\/i>the climax of the Middle Ages\u2014despite the Middle Ages\u2019 tremendous duration from the fall of the Roman Empire to the start of the Renaissance. As I hope to illuminate in this introduction, Tristan and Yseut<\/i> occurs in a historical context marked by the French feudal system, patriarchy, and the \u201cmorality\u201d the Catholic Church. It is also during this century that literature written in Vulgar Latin as well as new literary forms arose and permitted the inception of French literature.<\/p>\n
One of the most defining characteristics of French territory in the twelfth century is the hierarchical system of feudality\u2014a system of military obligations between an overlord (un seigneur) <\/i>and a vassal (un<\/i> vassal) <\/i>that functioned to structure society. <\/i>Seeing as France was not yet considered a united country, the region was divided into various principalities, or independent states (\u201cIntroduction: Le Moyen Age\u201d 1). Powerful feudal overlords, such as dukes and counts, maintained control over these principalities through contracts of servitude known as the Contrat vassalique <\/i>(\u201cIntroduction: Le Moyen Age\u201d 1). <\/i>These contracts\u2014the defining feature of feudal society\u2014obliged the feudal overlords to offer \u201cfidelity, protection, and the inheritance of a fief\/territory\u201d to the vassal, and obliged the vassal to offer \u201cfidelity, help, and advice\u201d to the overlord in return (\u201cLa soci\u00e9t\u00e9 f\u00e9odale: quelques d\u00e9finitions\u201d). This system gave a structure to French society at the time and acted as a defining characteristic of the twelfth century.<\/p>\n
In addition to the feudal system, the twelfth century in France is also characterized by the emerging use of Vulgar Latin (Old French) in literature as well as the birth of new literary forms. It is important, firstly, to acknowledge that the people belonging to the region now known as France wrote in Classical Latin up until the end of the eleventh century (Durvye 8). However, the twelfth century brought about a surge of new forms of literature in Vulgar Latin, such as la chanson de geste<\/i> (e.g. La Chanson de Roland<\/i>), la po\u00e9sie lyrique<\/i> (e.g. songs by Jaufr\u00e9 Rudel), and le roman \u201ccourtois\u201d<\/i> (e.g. works by author Chr\u00e9tien de Troyes) (Durvye 8), which were produced, shaped, and transmitted by jongleurs<\/i>, trouv\u00e8res<\/i> and troubadours <\/i>(Durvye 8). <\/i>Seeing as the majority of the population at this time could not read or write (including much of the aristocracy), stories, such as the tale of Tristan and Yseut,<\/i> were sung orally, <\/i>thus rendering a vast number of alternative versions of each narrative (Durvye 8-9). Clercs <\/i>would then copy the manuscripts into writing (Durvye 9). Not only did the twelfth century witness the creation of new literary forms, but it also marked the monumental switch from Classical Latin to Vulgar Latin in literature, thus resulting in the birth of French literature.<\/p>\n
Finally, other notable characteristics of the twelfth century in France are patriarchal society and the influence of the Catholic Church. On one hand, women enjoyed greater social freedom during the twelfth century than in the centuries to follow. Women were actually allowed to occupy many of the same roles as men, take part in the contrat vassalique, <\/i>own fiefs, and even fight at the frontline in battle (\u201cIntroduction: Le Moyen Age\u201d 3). On the other hand, women\u2019s lives were still nevertheless restricted through the institutions of marriage and Catholicism (\u201cIntroduction: Le Moyen Age\u201d 3). Patriarchal society and the powerful influence of the Catholic Church encouraged women \u201cto strive towards emulating the Virgin Mary, by being modest in their conduct and remaining courteous and dignified, regardless of the situation\u201d (\u201cMarriage and Virtue\u201d). Women were ultimately expected to become faithful wives and mothers. In other words, the twelfth century marked a period of new liberations for women, however the patriarchal society and the Catholic Church nevertheless exacted specific gender roles from members of society.<\/p>\n
It is within this historical context marked by feudalism, literary and linguistic transformation, and patriarchal and religious oppression that B\u00e9roul\u2019s written version of Tristan et Yseut <\/i>emerges. These various institutions worked to structure french society throughout the Twelfth Century and greatly influenced the sense of intrigue, morality, and judgement which B\u00e9roul presents in his rendition of this classic tale.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Works cited<\/p>\n
Durvye, Catherine. \u00c9tude sur B\u00e9roul: Tristan et Yseut, ou, le roman de Tristan. Paris: Ellipses, 2000. Print.<\/p>\n
\u201cIntroduction: Le Moyen Age.\u201d Cahier de lectures, <\/i>Fran\u00e7ais 215. 1-4.<\/p>\n
“Marriage and Virtue: Expectations of the “Good” Woman in 12th Century Society.” Notes on Paper<\/i>. 26 May 2009. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cLa soci\u00e9t\u00e9 f\u00e9odale: quelques d\u00e9finitions.\u201d Cahier de lectures, <\/i>Fran\u00e7ais 215.<\/p>\n
Witdouck, Sally, Michiel Van Kampen, and Tristan-David Depr\u00e9. “Tristan et Iseut (B\u00e9roul, XIIe S.) \u2010 Commentaire et analyse d’un extrait en ancien fran\u00e7ais.” Tristan Et Iseut (B\u00e9roul, XIIe S.) \u2010 Commentaire et analyse d’un extrait en ancien fran\u00e7ais<\/i>. Universiteit Gent. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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