The Story of Gargantua and Pantagruel - The Story of Gargantua and Pantagruel (English) Gargantua et Pantagruel

Japanese: ガルガンチュアとパンタグリュエルの物語 - ガルガンチュアとパンタグリュエルのものがたり（英語表記）Gargantua et Pantagruel

A series of stories by François Rabelais, consisting of five volumes. "First Book of Gargantua" (1534) and "Second Book of Pantagruel" (1532) follow the framework of medieval chivalric tales, depicting the birth, growth, travels, and superhuman feats of two generations of giant kings, father and son, of the Renaissance. In reality, however, they depict in a comical and satirical style the friction caused by Renaissance men who have become aware of human dignity, the rich potential, and the joy of living, and the reality of the old-fashioned society and culture. The Third Book of Pantagruel (1546) revolves around the marriage prospects of Panurge, an intellectual buffoon and aide to King Pantagruel. He visits shamans, astrologers, poets, doctors, theologians, philosophers, and judges, and exchanges their opinions with them in diverse, knowledgeable debates. It has the feel of a series of one-act comedies, and instead of the explosions of joy, folksy laughter, and grotesque action found in his earlier two works, it unfolds a drama of self-doubt and searching self-exploration of the modern intellect.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

フランソア･ラブレーの連作物語。5巻より成る。《第一之書ガルガンチュア》(1534)と《第二之書パンタグリュエル》(1532)は，父子2代の巨人王の誕生から成長期，遍歴修業，超人的武勲という中世伝来の騎士道物語の枠組みを踏襲しながら，その実は人間の尊厳と豊かな可能性，生きる喜びに目覚めたルネサンス人が，旧態依然たる現実の社会･文化との間に巻き起こす軋轢（あつれき）を，喜劇的風刺的筆致で描きつくす。《第三之書パンタグリュエル》(1546)は，王者パンタグリュエルの側近で知的道化の趣があるパニュルジュの結婚可否を軸として，巫女，占星学者，詩人，医師，神学者，哲学者，法官などを歴訪し，その意見をたたき多彩かつ博識な議論を交わす，いわば一幕喜劇の連鎖の趣があり，初期2作品に見られる歓喜の爆発や民衆的な哄笑，グロテスクなアクションに代わって近代的知性の自己懐疑･模索のドラマが展開される。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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