Song of Roland

The *Song of Roland* is a monumental epic poem from France.

It stands as the oldest surviving major work of French literature. This poem belongs to a genre known as a *chanson de geste*, or a song of heroic deeds. This literary form was highly popular across Medieval Europe from the 11th to the 16th centuries. These poems celebrated the legendary actions of warriors and leaders. The final version of the poem contains approximately 4,000 lines of Old French verse. It is now celebrated as the national epic of France.

The narrative structure follows a complex series of events involving betrayal and war. The story is set during the reign of Charlemagne, the King of the Franks. The plot begins after Charlemagne's army has campaigned in Spain for seven years. King Marsile of Saragossa attempts to negotiate a peace treaty with the Franks. However, a nobleman named Ganelon betrays Roland, who is Charlemagne's nephew. Ganelon provides the Saracens with information to ambush the Frankish rear guard.

This ambush occurs at the Roncevaux Pass as the army re-enters Francia.

During the intense battle, the poem describes specific actions and tools. Roland leads the rear guard alongside his wise friend Oliver and Archbishop Turpin. When the Franks are overwhelmed, Oliver urges Roland to blow his *olifant* to summon help. An *olifant* is a hunting horn made from an elephant tusk. Roland initially refuses, viewing the act as a sign of cowardice. Eventually, Archbishop Turpin intervenes and instructs Roland to call for the army.

Roland blows the horn with such force that his temples begin to bleed. Although Charlemagne hears the call and returns, Roland succumbs to his wounds and dies. The poem describes angels lifting his soul to Paradise.

Scholars have engaged in long debates regarding the poem's origins and dating. Many researchers believe the poem was composed between approximately AD 1040 and AD 1115. Some suggest a poet named Turold may have been responsible for the work. There is only one complete extant manuscript of the poem in existence.

This manuscript is held at the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford. It dates from between 1129 and 1165 and is written in Anglo-Norman. Other scholars point to the term *d'oltre mer*, meaning "oversea," as evidence. This term was commonly used after the First Crusade to refer to the Latin Levant. This suggests the poem may have received additions after the Crusade began in 1096.

The technical composition of the poem uses a unique system of verse. The poem is organized into stanzas of irregular length called *laisses*. These *laisses* use decasyllabic lines, which means each line contains ten syllables. The lines are divided by a *caesura*, a strong pause that usually occurs after the fourth syllable. Instead of using rhyme, the poem employs assonance. This means the last stressed syllable of every line in a *laisse* shares the same vowel sound. This rhythmic structure helped the poem during oral performances by traveling minstrels.

The poem is notable for its focus on action rather than internal thought. Unlike later Renaissance literature, the *Song of Roland* emphasizes what characters do. The warriors are often presented as stereotypes defined by specific, salient traits. Roland is characterized by his loyalty and trust, while Ganelon is defined by his vindictive nature. The narrator uses repetition and parallelism to drive the story forward.

The narrative can also repeat scenes from different perspectives. This technique functions similarly to a modern film sequence shot from multiple angles. It allows new and more important details to emerge with each repetition.

Finally, the poem connects to broader themes of justice and betrayal. After the battle, Charlemagne pursues the retreating forces and eventually conquers Saragossa. The traitor Ganelon is brought to trial to face the consequences of his actions. He argues that his betrayal was actually a form of legitimate revenge. However, a man named Thierry argues that Ganelon's actions were treason because Roland was serving the King. Through a trial by combat, Thierry defeats Pinabel, Ganelon's supporter. This divine intervention convinces the Franks of Ganelon's guilt, leading to his execution.