Hatrack River Forum: La Chanson de Roland

This is topic La Chanson de Roland in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :

Has anyone read it? Has anyone else been forced to read it by a sadistic lit proff? Did anyone actually like it?

Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :

Nope, haven't read it, but I am in a French Lit class right now, and we've talked about it quite a bit in the first couple weeks of class. C'est un poème épique très célèbre, n'est-ce pas? [Wink]

Good luck with that! [Razz]

Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :

I really enjoy it, actually. It's amazing for its completeness and its age. Do you have to read it in French?

I actually wrote a paper last fall about the conflict between Christianity and feudalism being the reason for two heroic characters, Roland and Oliver, and their contradictory actions. I'm thinking this semester I'm going to write a paper about the persistence and evolution of the "saracen" in French literature, comparing La Chanson de Roland with Montesquieu's Persian Letters and contemporary novels like Le Gône de Chaaba. There's some amazing sociological stuff to be found in its seemingly archaic verse.

Let me know if you need any help. [Smile]

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

pH...

You have my deepest sympathies.

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

*pat pat*

Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :

I've read it in English, but just for fun, never for a class. It's been about 10 years though, so I don't remember all that much about it. Might be time for a reread.

Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :

It should be a must read for anyone who reads Elric.

I read it in English, found it racist, biased, and still interesting.

Its where I learned what a Carbunkle is.

The fact that it confuses Mohammed and Apollo I still find amusing.

Here is the thougt for your term paper--Compare and contrast Boromir and Roland.

Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :

Hahahaha. Boromir vs. Roland actually came to mind when I read the summary.

Then again, I'm also writing my adjunct paper on the Alien trilogy, so maybe I just shouldn't be allowed to pick my own topics.

We had a quiz on it today. I can't remember French names for crap.

Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :

quote:
I can't remember French names for crap.

That would be, Le Poop and Le Dodo.

The reason the Boromir/Roland comparison comes to mind is that Tolkien was a big fan of all Medieval lit--being a professor of such, including many of the Roland works. I believe he put a lot of Roland in Boromir.

Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :

merde, résidus, abats, engrais, and épuisez are the only ones I can come up with.

[Edit--Damn you Dan_Raven! If I hadn't Babelfished for *real* French words for crap, I'd have gotten my joke in minutes before you did!]

[ January 22, 2004, 12:32 PM: Message edited by: Noemon ]

Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :

Inexplicably, I now picture Noemon stirring a sauce when he says anything. Strange, that.

(And not exactly the picture I wanted with merde, but I'll live. [Big Grin]

)

Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :

*erm*...yeah, CT, that's much more of a sauce for Captain Coprophagus. If anyone ever offers you an engrais sauce, my advice would be to claim a food allergy, and call the Board of Health as soon as you get the chance.