English Literature / Unit 5 ENL 0402 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Marie de France and the Lai
Captions available
The idea
Marie de France, considered the first female French medieval poet, wrote lais, short verse romances she said came from Breton minstrels, in Anglo-Norman French. In Launfal, a neglected knight of Arthur's court wins a fairy lady's love on condition he keep it secret.
In practice
Short romances from Breton tales.
Where people slip
We know almost nothing of her life.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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