Historical Romance in England - Studies in Anglo-Norman and Middle English Romance

Oct 5, 2026

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Research investigates historical romance in England and the relationship between Anglo-Norman and Middle English romance traditions. It begins with a descriptive analysis of Anglo-Norman material, including two versions of Haveloc and romances of Horn, Beves, Boeve de Haumtone, Ipomedon, Protheselaus, Fergus, Gui de Warewic, and Fouke Fitzwarin (mid-twelfth to mid-thirteenth century). Patronage and thematic treatment are assessed, showing restraint or modification of amour courtois, courtoisie, and supernatural elements, alongside enhanced prominence of feudal themes. Three groups of Middle English romances follow: those with extant Anglo-Norman versions, those positing Anglo-Norman originals, and Arthurian romances of the Alliterative Revival influenced by earlier Anglo-Norman attitudes. The conclusion asserts broader Anglo-Norman influence on Middle English romance than previously recognized.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages474

Reading Time12 h 10 min

AccessFree to download

Part One: Anglo-Norman Romance

Chapter One: Introduction

Chapter Two

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Appendix I

Appendix II

Part Two: Middle English Romance

Introduction

Conclusion

HISTORICAL ROMANCE IN ENGLAND:STUDIES IN ANGLO-NORMAN AND MIDDLE ENGLISH ROMANCE Rosalind Wadsworth D.Phil. 1972 . Department of EnglishUniversity of York . PART ONE: Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter FiveChapter Six Chapter SevenChapter EightChapter Nine Appendix IAppendix II CONTENTS ANGLO-NORMAN ROMANCE Page Introductionl Anglo-Norman Romance: (a)The Material 24 (b)Courtoisie and "amour courtois 54 (c)The Court and Courtoisie 74 (d)The Supernatural 95 (e)Feudalism 107 Chapter ThreeThe Patronage and Background ofAnglo-Norman Romance137 Chapter FourConclusion: The Anglo-NormanHistorical Romance170 PART TWO:MIDDLE ENGLISH ROMANCE 185 Introduction Middle English versions of 199 Anglo-Norman romances 288 Other Metrical Romances 302 The Alliterative Revival 360 Conclusion 362 Table of extant mss.Chronological list of extant mss. 365 367 AbbreviationsNotesBibliography 369 452 # ABSTRACT Historical Romance in England: Studies in Anglo-Norman and Middle English Romance The enquiry into the nature of historical romance in England andthe relationship between the Anglo-Norman and the Middle English romances,begins with a des criptive analysis of the Anglo-Norman material -the twoversions of Haveloc,the romances of Horn,Boeve de Haumtone,Ipomedon,Protheselaus,Fergus,Gui de Warewic and Fouke Fitzwarin,dating from themid-twelfth to the mid-thirteenth century. These are analysed in termsof subject matter and the treatment of main themes,and their patronageand background are also investigated. This shows that Anglo-Norman romanceis characterised by a preference for historical subject matter and for associated themes and attitudes,that amour courtois and courtoisie,like thesupernatural,are restrained and modified,while themes connected withfeudalism.aregivena-prominence greater.than in comparable.continentalromance,thus apparent1y reflecting the interests of the original baronialaudiences. Three groups of Middle English romances are then considered. Thefirst consists of five romances with extant Anglo-Norman versions -Havelok,Horn,Beves,Guy and Ipomadon -and the second of three romances which haveposited Anglo-Norman originals -Athelston,Gamelyn and Richard Coeur de Lion.A comparison of these with Anglo-Norman romance indicates that Middle Englishversions are not necessarily popularisations of Anglo-Norman originals,andthat the relationship of each romance to the whole tradition of Anglo-Normanromance is important. The thesis then considers a group of roman ces whichshare with the Anglo-Norman romances a courtly provincial milieu and historical subject matter -the Arthurian romances of the AlliterativeRevival -and shows how they are influenced by the earlier tradition,and by Anglo-Norman attitudes to Arthurian romance. The conclusionreached is that Anglo-Norman romance has a wider influence on a greaterproportion of Middle English romance than has previously been recognised. PART ONE ANGLO-NORMAN ROMANCE CHAPTER ONEIntroduction Any study of medieval romance is inevitably beset withproblems of definition and classification,and this study willprove no exception. However,there is one additional questionof definition which can be dealt with at the outset,and thatis of the term "Anglo-Norman",which is used variously for thepurposes of history,dialectology,and literary history. Thecomplexities of the problem are not the concern of this thesis,for the purposes of which we follow the definition given by M.K.Pope:² "I am taking 'Anglo-Norman'in the wide sense of theterm,to denote the traditional French spoken and writtenin Britain from the Norman Conquest on to approximatelythe last quarter of the fourteenth century,i.e.up toand including writers such as Henry,Duke of Lancasterand John Gower,whose use of French,although much morecorrect than that of many earlier writers,has still aninsular flavour. The main concern of Ang

FAQs

What is the thesis primarily investigating?

The enquiry focuses on the nature of historical romance in England and how Anglo-Norman romances relate to Middle English romances.

Which Anglo-Norman sources are analyzed in the study?

The study examines Anglo-Norman material including two versions of Haveloc and romances of Horn, Beves, Boeve de Haumtone, Ipomedon, Protheselaus, Fergus, Gui de Warewic, and Fouke Fitzwarin.

How does the study characterize the thematic features of Anglo-Norman romance?

It identifies a preference for historical subject matter, restrained and modified treatment of amour courtois/courtoisie and supernatural elements, and greater prominence of feudal-related themes.

Oct 5, 2026

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