Since the early centuries, writers of different genres have used a number of methods to write about events, sites, and ways of life as per the lifestyles during their time. Comparing the ancient writings and the modern writings, a striking difference in the style of writing and the lifestyle is different.
However, there are traces of history that have been transferred over the years through different generation to the current generation. An example of the cities as they were identified in the twelfth century present a piece of history to look into the lifestyle of the time . The governance system, the building structures, education levels, the activities that the people in that century regarded highly and the social classes present unique characteristics that define the 12th century. Referring to the books of Chrétien de Troyes and Marie de France, this paper reflects on the several references to the cities in England and France during the twelfth century.
Historiography
The 12th century is depicted in many ways by the Lais of Marie de France and the romances of Chrétien de Troyes. In the everyday lives of the people in that time, both Marie de France and Chrétien de Troyes represents a set of lifestyles that are uniquely associated with France and England, cities they spent some time visiting. Historians of the time like Geoffrey of Monmouth present a similar perspective to the Lais and romances as written earlier. The different perspectives of historians develop a single outlook of the 12th century lifestyle and the architecture and infrastructure at the time. The different conceptions of the cities present civilization/ nature dualism, which translate to social injustice experienced from time to time, neglect of the urban spaces, and the lack of fulfillment for urban residents and those of favor to the urban life. Despite the fact that, different scholars write at different times of the period, there accounts of the cities and the developments at that time seem to agree. Over time, different analysts and historians have brought to light the different perspectives that poets and literature writers of the 12th century put to use in their materials.
Both Chrétien de Troyes and Marie de France came to fame at the same period in the 12th century with the different writings that they wrote. Chrétien de Troyes is famous for his romantic poems that are centered in the 12th century. Born around 1135, Chrétien is considered the founder of the Arthurian literature in French Old and among the first authors of the romances of chivalry. Chrétien’s poems Erec and Enide, Cliges, Lancelot or the Knight of the Cart, Yvain or the Knight of the Lion, and Perceval or the tales of the Grail have had tremendous effects to his work as a poet. The romantics of Chrétien display a demonstration in using poems to represent figuratively aspects. Thus, romances are used to demonstrate the changes that are inevitable at a time and the different aspects of the way of life that people live at a given time. The romances show the way through, which the urban environment as a natural place prone to changes that are both in control and out of the control of human forces. Chrétien symbolic representation of different aspects of the lifestyle in the 12th century is critiqued and at the same time supported by different historians . Although, not all the depictions from his writings can be proved right, they represent imagery through what he perceived the developments and changes during that time.
Marie de France is famous for the Lias, a collection of twelve short narratives, which were written in the 12th century. The writings of the Lias are considered done in England though, with a French background, Marie de France presents a reflection of the different cities from a personal perception. Writing in the 12th century, Marie uses figurative approaches to represent the different aspects that the cities of England and France portrayed during that time and the culture of the people. Marie’s facts about life are not provided but in the writings, she mentions herself. Marie’s writings fall in the period 1160-1199 a depiction of her ability to read and write. Thus, she is among the women of the 12th century to have had the privilege of attending school. Marie’s uses her work to portray her intelligence, sly subversion of the courtly values within a form specifically intended for a courtly audience. Marie further displays her talent to express the universal values within the framework of an even-then ancient genre. The Lias draw the attention to the themes and techniques that are of a poetic nature tradition and with contemporary author’s perception.
The accounts of Chrétien de Troyes and Marie de France present a number of themes in their perception of the daily lives of people during the 12th century. They address the societies, the living standards, and the work they part in, their beliefs in religion and culture, the education levels, architectural designs and the inventions that marked the time. Each of these accounts written in different genres, their analysis presents a wider scope of the cities that they spent time writing their works. Focusing on two cities, England and France Chrétien de Troyes and Marie de France present a comparison and similarity in the developments in both the cities as they embraced the changes during their time. They further provide a look into the leadership system and the city structures that mark the 12th century as compared to the contemporary systems.
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The post Since the early centuries, writers of different genres have used a number of methods to write about events, sites, and ways of life as per the lifestyles during their time. Comparing the ancient writings and the modern writings, a striking difference in the style of writing and the lifestyle is different. appeared first on Wise Papers.
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