Fierenbras. Anglo-Norman Developments of the Chanson de Geste

Abstract

This paper analyses the Anglo-Norman version of Fierabras (Fierenbras) in the light of characteristics of other insular texts written in chanson de geste form, namely the Roman de Horn and the Anglo-Norman Boeve de Haumtone. The analysis focuses on the economy of narration, a feature shared by all these texts, the way the laisse is used and the forms of discourse. It is observed that while Fierenbras exploits the potentials of the laisse in a fairly conventional way, following the continental text, it uses some forms of rhetoric that are more unusual in the continental tradition. Of most interest here is Charlemagne’s prayer which is much more rhetorical and more tightly structured than in the continental Fierabras. This is in keeping with the mixture of chanson de geste and other forms of discourse in Horn and Boeve de Haumtone, arguably a feature of insular chansons de geste.