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Galeran de Bretagne

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Galeran de Bretagne is a 13th century French (Breton) romance by Jean Renaut. The plot concerns a young woman who has lost her lover. She befriends a widow's daughter and is offered lodgings in the widow's household where her industry contributes to supporting the household. It has been compared to Escoufe, a poem of murky authorship that is often attributed to Renaut.[1]

In 1928 Maurice Wilmotte said Renaut had plagiarized the work from Chrétien de Troyes and Marie de France. In Renaut's time it was a widespread custom for writers to use themes, words or concepts from other significant literary works, and it was regarded is a sign of respect. Wilmotte later withdrew the accusations. Roger Dragonetti considered Galeran "a form of homage" to Marie de France's Fresne and her other Breton lais.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Warren, F.M. (April 1908). "The Words of Jean Renart, Poet, and Their Relation to Galeran de Bretagne. II". Modern Language Notes. 23 (4): 97–100.
  2. ^ Brumlik, Joan (1995). "Thoughts on Renaut's Use of Marie's Fresne in Galeran de Bretagne". Florilegium. 14: 87.