Twelfth Century French Texts

The twelfth century saw the establishment of the vernacular as an acceptable literary medium. Moreover, the appearance of new literary genres reflected the ongoing historical and social developments of this time. Latin still exerted considerable influence in the lives of the literate; anyone who could read could read Latin, which was still the language of the church, government, justice and education. Prior to this time, any literature written in the vernacular was done so to be read aloud, primarily to those unable to read (the vast majority of the population). This oral literature carried messages of obedience to the church (as in the lives of saints and religious theater)and obedience to the state (as in the chansons de geste). In the twelfth century, however, there emerged a literature in the vernacular intended to be read by the individual. This literature contained themes which appealed to the ruling class, and was particularly influenced by the Crusades. With the absence of an entire population of male rulers, the influence of the Dame in the court became considerable, and reflected itself in the developing literature of chivalry (litt�rature courtoise). Themes of platonic love, honor, respect for the lady became central to the genre. This was a type of literature that had already been flourishing in the South, in Langue D'Oc. There, the influence of the lyric poet, the troubadour, was already a palpable presence in the court. However, with the marriage of Ali�nor d'Aquitaine to Louis VII and subsequently to Henri Plantagenet (Henry II, Count of Anjou, Duke of Normandy, and King of England after 1154), these southern influences were brought to the North. Other influences, such as the Breton (Celtic) tradition, and the tradition of Latin antiquity appeared in the arthurian and epic works which appeared during this period.

At the same time, the bourgeoisie began to grow in influence, economically, politically and culturally. As a potential rival to the crown for political control--a situation which eventually culminated in the French Revolution--bourgeois literature often satirized the ruling classes, albeit with some discretion, as in the Roman de Renart. The development of the Fabliau was an important event in the literature of this time. Although modeled to some extent on the fables of antiquity (e.g., Aesop) these fables, frequently bawdy, did not always carry a clear moral message. In the next century, this spirit of satire would gradually come to effect even the most sacred of literary genres, the religious theater.

©1997, 2008 by Joseph E. Price. Use permitted with appropriate citation.

Albéric de Pisançon
Roman D’Alexandre

Jaufré Rudel
Lanqand li jorn son lonc en mai

Philippe de Thaon
Le Bestiaire 

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