The Lay le Freine and its Celtic influences: a Study

Abstract

The Middle English Breton lays – Sir Orfeo, Sir Degaré, Lay le Freine, Erle of Tolous, Emaré, Sir Gowther, Sir Launfal – display specific features compared to what we know of the ancient orally transmitted Breton lays. Probably the most influential, exemplar mediaeval collection of lays was composed by Marie de France, the Anglo-Norman author of twelve original Breton lais – Guigemar, Equitan, Le Fresne, Bisclavret, Lanval, Les Deus Amanz, Yonec, Laustic, Milun, Chaitivel, Chevrefoille, and Eliduc – that established this literary tradition. Many were the imitations of her lays, among which figures the Lay le Freine, which can be considered an anonymous adaptation of her Lai le Fresne. Despite their obvious differences, both Marie de France’s Lais and the Middle English Breton lays do share some peculiar characteristics among which the most prominent are the theme of courtly love, and a significant Celtic influence. The main purpose of this thesis is the study of Celtic elements in the Lay le Freine, one of the Middle English Breton lays found in the Auchinleck manuscript. The lay was chosen due to some specific features such as: the theme of mother-daughter relationships being addressed, the peculiarity of having a female protagonist, the presence of multiple folklore motifs and, of course, the existence of a possible link to the Otherworld. To do so, this study will be divided into three main chapters which will be preceded by a general introduction to the analysed topic and followed by a conclusion presenting the final considerations. The works of scholars who have given a crucial contribution to the analysis of Marie de France’s Lais, to the Middle English Breton lays, and to the Celtic influences in literature will be referred to throughout the whole thesis. In the first chapter, the topic addressed will be the genre definition of Middle English Breton lay and how it places itself historically, literary, and culturally-wise. A brief introduction to Marie de France’s works will follow, as well as a glance at how Celtic literature was parallelly developing at the time. The second chapter will be dedicated to an overview of the Lay le Freine itself and its main characteristics, highlighting as well the similarities and the differences shared with the other lays found in the Auchinleck manuscript. Finally, the third chapter will focus on an analysis of what the Lay le Freine and the Lais le Fresne have in common and what, instead, differs. The Celtic elements of both works will also be highlighted, before moving onto the final conclusions and considerations to this research.