Poem of valor (chanson de geste)

Chanson de geste. A long epic poem (11th to 15th century) that sings of the military exploits of French kings and feudal lords, typified by "The Song of Roland". Its heyday lasted for about 100 years from 1150. There are over 80 surviving works, most of which are anonymous. There are several poetic forms, including ten-syllable vowel rhyming, and prose versions were also produced in the 14th and 15th centuries.

The Cycle of Heroes of the Army is divided into three major groups: the Cycle of the Heroes of the Army (Charlemagne), which celebrates the glory of France by singing of the struggle between Christian and Islamic lands and the dream of Western unity; the Cycle of the Heroes of the Army (Guillaume), which defends the position of feudal barons against an indecisive king; and the Cycle of the Heroes of the Army (Doon de Mayence), which has the theme of rebellion. The Cycle of Heroes of the Army was originally set against the backdrop of the transition from the clerical civilization represented by the hagiographies to the knightly civilization, and was told to the masses while playing the harp (bielle). However, as can be seen from the epic themes, motifs and clichés, the role played by professional storytellers, the jongleurs, in the creation of the Cycle of Heroes. The contents of these poems express the anti-Muslim sentiment that stems from the Crusades, and praise the hero's bravery, prudence, loyalty, sacrificial acts, and family solidarity, but the hero's virtues are often highlighted by the presence of a brilliant assistant, coward, or traitor. There are two theories about their origins: one is the "traditional theory," which says that the epic poems are an expression of the Germanic spirit, and that they arose spontaneously among the people who had a direct connection to the historical facts, and were then passed down while being revised; the other is the "individual author theory," which focuses on the differences between the historical facts and the content of the works, and thinks that they responded to the demands of the times in French feudal society at the time of their creation, and emphasizes the imagination and artistic talent of the poet, but a final conclusion has yet to be reached.

[Tetsuo Washida]

Teruo Sato's The Song of Roland and the Tale of the Heike, Volumes 1 and 2 (1973, Chikuma Shobo) Chikuma World Literature Series 10: Collection of Medieval Literature (1974, Chikuma Shobo)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

シャンソン・ド・ジェスト。フランス国王や封建諸侯の武勲を歌った長編叙事詩（11～15世紀）で、『ロランの歌』に代表される。最盛期は1150年から約100年間。現存作品は80余りだが大部分は匿名で、10音綴母音押韻(おんてつぼいんおういん)をはじめいくつかの詩型があり、14、15世紀には散文化も行われた。

　武勲詩は、キリスト教圏とイスラム教圏との闘争や西洋統一の夢を歌い、フランスの栄光をたたえた「シャルル大帝の武勲」Cycle de Charlemagne、優柔不断な国王に対する封建諸侯の立場を弁護した「ギヨームの武勲」Cycle de Guillaume、反逆を主題とした「ドーン・ド・マイヤンスの武勲」Cycle de Doon de Mayenceの三大作品群に分けられる。武勲詩は本来、聖者伝に代表される聖職者文明から騎士文明への移行を背景としており、手回し琴(ビエル)を弾きながら大衆の前で語られたものだが、叙事詩的なテーマ、モチーフや決まり文句にみられるように、作成にあたって専門的な語り手であるジョングルールjongleurが果たした役割は大きい。その内容は十字軍思想を背景とするイスラム教徒への対抗意識や、主人公の武勇、思慮分別、忠誠心、犠牲的行為、一族の連帯感をたたえたものだが、主人公の美徳は優れた補佐役や卑怯(ひきょう)者、裏切り者の存在により引き立たせられている場合が多い。起源に関しては二説あり、一つは、武勲詩がゲルマン精神の発露であり、史実に直接関係のあった民衆の間に自然発生したものが改作されながら伝えられたと説く「伝承説」、他の一つは、史実と作品内容の相違に注目し、作成当時のフランス封建社会の時代的要求にこたえたものと考えて、詩人の想像力や芸術的才能を重視する「個人作者説」に大別されるが、いまだ最終的結論には達していない。

［鷲田哲夫］

『佐藤輝夫著『ローランの歌と平家物語』上下（1973・筑摩書房）』▽『『筑摩世界文学大系10　中世文学集』（1974・筑摩書房）』

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