Birds, Messages and Messengers in the Lais of Marie de France: “Matière de Bretagne” and/or Troubadour Lyrics

Abstract

The article presents the three of Marie de France’s lais in which birds, messages and messengers play an important role. The influence of “Matière de Bretagne” over these lais is obvious. However, troubadours’ lyrics have an influence on Marie de France’s Lais as much as “Matière de Bretagne”. Very often themes from “Matière de Bretagne” and themes from Occitan poetry overlap each other forming a bizarre fusion in her lais.

Keywords

• Marie de France
• lai
• matière de Bretagne
• troubadour lyric
• salut d’amour
• plot
• infusion
• measure
• joy