Marie De France's Lanval

1. Why does Guinevere threaten Lanval and try to get him sentenced to death?

Because he refuses to sleep with her

Because he attempts to rape her

Because he betrayed Arthur

Because she is jealous of the fairy lady

Guinevere threatens Lanval and tries to get him sentenced to death because he refuses to sleep with her. This rejection of her advances may have wounded her pride and ego, leading her to seek revenge and assert her power over him.

Explanation

Guinevere threatens Lanval and tries to get him sentenced to death because he refuses to sleep with her. This rejection of her advances may have wounded her pride and ego, leading her to seek revenge and assert her power over him.

2. Arthur's court is a just, fair place

True

False

The statement "Arthur's court is a just, fair place" is given as true, but the correct answer is false. This means that Arthur's court is not a just and fair place.

Explanation

The statement "Arthur's court is a just, fair place" is given as true, but the correct answer is false. This means that Arthur's court is not a just and fair place.

3. When did Marie de France write her lays?

The early twelfth century

The late twelfth century

The fourteenth century

We don't know

Marie de France wrote her lays in the late twelfth century. This period is often referred to as the "courtly love" era, where literature focused on themes of romance, chivalry, and idealized love. Marie de France's lays, a collection of narrative poems, embody these themes and were highly influential in medieval literature. The fact that Marie de France wrote in the late twelfth century is known through historical records and analysis of her works.

Explanation

Marie de France wrote her lays in the late twelfth century. This period is often referred to as the "courtly love" era, where literature focused on themes of romance, chivalry, and idealized love. Marie de France's lays, a collection of narrative poems, embody these themes and were highly influential in medieval literature. The fact that Marie de France wrote in the late twelfth century is known through historical records and analysis of her works.

4. Why isn't Lanval a Breton lay?

Because it's too long

Because it uses the wrong form

Because it doesn't take place in Brittany

It is a Breton Lay

Lanval cannot be considered a Breton lay because it does not take place in Brittany. Breton lays are a type of medieval narrative poem that originated in Brittany, a region in France. These lays typically feature themes and settings that are associated with the Breton culture and folklore. Since Lanval does not have any connection to Brittany in terms of its setting or themes, it cannot be classified as a Breton lay.

Explanation

Lanval cannot be considered a Breton lay because it does not take place in Brittany. Breton lays are a type of medieval narrative poem that originated in Brittany, a region in France. These lays typically feature themes and settings that are associated with the Breton culture and folklore. Since Lanval does not have any connection to Brittany in terms of its setting or themes, it cannot be classified as a Breton lay.

5. Whom does Marie de France dedicate her poems to?

Henry II

William of Mandeville

William of Marshall

All of the above

We're not completely sure

While all of these are possibly correct, we can never know completely, since Marie does not name her patrons and we don't know much about her from history.

Explanation

While all of these are possibly correct, we can never know completely, since Marie does not name her patrons and we don't know much about her from history.

6. Why are the Breton lays written in French?

England was occupied by French imperialists in the twelfth century

English was the native language of the people, but French was the language of the courts

French was the native tongue of the English nobility

Marie de France and her audience were pretentious

During the twelfth century, when the Breton lays were written, French was the native language of the English nobility. This suggests that the nobility, who were the primary audience for the lays, would have been more familiar with and receptive to literature written in their native tongue. Therefore, the Breton lays were likely written in French to cater to the linguistic preferences and cultural background of the English nobility.

Explanation

During the twelfth century, when the Breton lays were written, French was the native language of the English nobility. This suggests that the nobility, who were the primary audience for the lays, would have been more familiar with and receptive to literature written in their native tongue. Therefore, the Breton lays were likely written in French to cater to the linguistic preferences and cultural background of the English nobility.