Function and meaning of metamorphosis in the Lais of Marie de France

The primary object of this dissertation is to explore the concept and the manifestations of Metamorphosis, with special reference to the Lais of Marie de France. In Chapter 1 the all-pervasive nature of Metamorphosis is examined. Attention is focused on the fact that Metamorphosis occurs in all spheres: it may be seen in Nature, in physical development and in many less visible forms such as emotional, attitudinal and moral transformations and transgressions in which it plays a fundamental role. Chapter 2 focuses on the Twelfth Century Renaissance. This chapter serves to emphasize a further aspect of Metamorphosis, that of social change and intellectual development. It thus situates Marie de France in a historical context and clarifies the Zeitgeist to which she was exposed, which influenced her writing and which she in turn influenced. In Chapter 3 I analyze the individual Lais. Marie de France's approach to her material is that her interest lies in the exploration of the emotional, spiritual, moral and attitudinal Metamorphosis which her characters undergo. The analysis reveals the beginnings of a change in genre. A further Metamorphosis of these tales becomes evident when an addition is made to the purely anecdotal material: the authoress adds a Christian dimension and inserts a subtle moral message. In Chapter 4 the findings of the analyses of the individual lais are grouped in order to gain a more precise understanding of the kind of Metamorphosis the various topoi have undergone in the course of the tale. Chapter 5 is devoted to the elucidation of the narratological Metamorphosis the traditional tales undergo in the process.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

French Language and Literature

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Van Heerden, Helga Dieta

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Chandler, Clive
• Sienaert, Edgard

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/10818

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/10818