Chanson d'aventure

The chanson d'aventure ([ʃɑ̃sɔ̃ davɑ̃tyʁ], English: song of adventure) is a genre of medieval poetry originating in France, but which had a substantial influence on poetry in Middle English.

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 lyrics usually with an erotic or amorous theme.[1] 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.[2]

Poets in Middle English 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, although with the important distinction that the poet does not fall asleep.

gollark: I guess so. At least I'm not an international student.
gollark: I apparently have to pick a course within a few months before applying to university, and because the English system is so perfect and without flaw™ cannot really do the American thing of studying multiple things and specializing later. Fun!
gollark: Do related things and pick later?
gollark: As you can see, they're very pingy.
gollark: I have no idea what the spikes are, saturated network somewhere or something?

See also

References


  1. Strohm, P. Middle English, Oxford: OUP, 2007, p.227-8
  2. Davidoff, J. M. Beginning Well: Framing Fictions in Late Middle English Poetry, Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1988, p.36
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