medieval poetry
Poetry took numerous forms in medieval Europe, for example, lyric and epic poetry. The troubadours, trouvères, and the minnesänger are known for composing their lyric poetry about courtly love usually accompanied by an instrument.
Among the m ...
originating in
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
, but which had a substantial influence on poetry in
Middle English
Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman Conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English pe ...
.
Structure
The ''chanson d'aventure'' (plural ''chansons d'aventure'') is essentially a framing device, where the singer (or poet) wanders into a wild or rural setting and has a chance encounter, usually in the form of a dialogue; it originates in
Old French
Old French (, , ; ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France approximately between the late 8th
lyrics
Lyrics are words that make up a song, usually consisting of verses and choruses. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist. The words to an extended musical composition such as an opera are, however, usually known as a "libretto" and their writer, ...
usually with an erotic or amorous theme.Strohm, P. ''Middle English'', Oxford: OUP, 2007, p.227-8 Sometimes, the ''chanson'' may focus on an overheard dialogue, or lover's complaint. In either way, the chief feature is that of a chance encounter. It likely evolved from two earlier ''chanson'' subtypes, the ''chanson dramatique'' and the ''chanson pastourelle''.Davidoff, J. M. ''Beginning Well: Framing Fictions in Late Middle English Poetry'', Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1988, p.36
Poets in
Middle English
Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman Conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English pe ...
adopted the trope for themes other than love, often making the debate's focus a moral or devotional one. The genre shares many common features with the
dream vision
A dream vision or ''visio'' is a literary device in which a dream or vision is recounted as having revealed knowledge or a truth that is not available to the dreamer or visionary in a normal waking state. While dreams occur frequently throughout ...
, although with the important distinction that the poet does not fall asleep.
See also
*''
Chanson de geste
The , from 'deeds, actions accomplished') is a medieval narrative, a type of epic poetry, epic poem that appears at the dawn of French literature. The earliest known poems of this genre date from the late 11th and early 12th centuries, shortly ...