Copeland2016.Pdf (1.069Mb)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
This thesis has been submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree (e.g. PhD, MPhil, DClinPsychol) at the University of Edinburgh. Please note the following terms and conditions of use: This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, which are retained by the thesis author, unless otherwise stated. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. Declaration: This is to certify that that the work contained within has been composed by me and is entirely my own work. No part of this thesis has been submitted for any other degree or professional qualification. Date: 19/05/2016 Signature: ______________________________ From Fierabras to Stair Fortibrais: A Comparative Analysis of the Chanson de Geste and its Adaptations in Ireland E. Copeland Doctorate of Philosophy The University of Edinburgh 2016 Abstract Despite its apparent popularity in fifteenth-century Ireland—as attested by its presence in eight manuscripts—Stair Fortibrais, the Irish adaptation of the twelfth-century chanson de geste Fierabras has received very little scholarly attention. This fact proves especially unfortunate since the text possesses particular relevance for two important trends in recent scholarship, one concerning Celtic Studies and the other more broadly Continental in scope. In the case of the former, researchers have begun to consider how translations can inform the interpretation of the greater corpus of medieval Irish literature. The latter relates to an interest in the person of Charlemagne himself as a pan-European figure. As an Irish translation of a poem from the geste du roi, Stair Fortibrais has much to contribute to both these academic discussions. Because the text remains relatively unknown, this thesis is by design intended largely as a scholarly introduction to the material. It seeks to present data about the text and serve as a guide to some of its most important themes. The Introduction will provide basic information about Stair Fortibrais and its Hiberno-Latin source Gesta Karoli Magni and their unique place amongst Irish translation literature. The body of the thesis is composed of four chapters. The first examines all manuscripts containing the Irish adaptation as well as the single codex featuring its Latin source. More specifically, it considers how its placement within the manuscripts provides guidance for interpreting the text. All three remaining chapters compare the Irish adaptation—and, where appropriate, its fragmentary Latin source—with Fierabras. The second chapter discusses additions, reordering, reduction/omission and substitution in Stair Fortibrais in an attempt to determine the adaptor’s translation technique, with a particular emphasis on patterns in his approach. The penultimate chapter analyses the adaptation’s treatment of some of the chanson de geste’s important themes. It is divided into three sections: Character Studies, Religion and the Supernatural and Religion and Historiography. The final chapter studies topics both political—rank and feudal duties— and cultural—family, unity, and moderate behaviour— which appear to have particularly interested the adaptor but which do not feature prominently in the French poem. The conclusion of the thesis will postulate that, through a series of subtle but carefully-considered alterations, the adaptors not only translated but also re-appropriated their source material for its Irish audience. It will also briefly consider some of the numerous avenues for additional exploration of the tradition of Charlemagne in Ireland. Lay Summary Despite its apparent popularity in fifteenth-century Ireland—as attested by its presence in eight manuscripts—Stair Fortibrais, the Irish adaptation of the twelfth-century chanson de geste (French epic poem) Fierabras has received very little scholarly attention. This fact proves especially unfortunate since the text possesses particular relevance for two important trends in recent scholarship, one concerning Celtic Studies and the other more broadly Continental in scope. In the case of the former, researchers have begun to consider how translations can inform the interpretation of the greater corpus of medieval Irish literature. The latter relates to an interest in the person of Charlemagne himself as a pan- European figure. As an Irish translation of a poem from the geste du roi (Cycle of the King), Stair Fortibrais has much to contribute to both these academic discussions. Because the text remains relatively unknown, this thesis is by design intended largely as a scholarly introduction to the material. It seeks to present data about the text and serve as a guide to some of its most important themes. The Introduction will provide basic information about Stair Fortibrais and its Hiberno-Latin source Gesta Karoli Magni and their unique place amongst Irish translation literature. The body of the thesis is composed of four chapters. The first examines all manuscripts containing the Irish adaptation as well as the single codex featuring its Latin source. More specifically, it considers how its placement within the manuscripts provides guidance for interpreting the text. All three remaining chapters compare the Irish adaptation—and, where appropriate, its fragmentary Latin source—with Fierabras. The second chapter discusses additions, reordering, reduction/omission and substitution in Stair Fortibrais in an attempt to determine the adaptor’s translation technique, with a particular emphasis on patterns in his approach. The penultimate chapter analyses the adaptation’s treatment of some of the chanson de geste’s important themes. It is divided into three sections: Character Studies, Religion and the Supernatural and Religion and Historiography. The final chapter studies topics both political—rank and feudal duties— and cultural—family, unity, and moderate behaviour— which appear to have particularly interested the adaptor but which do not feature prominently in the French poem. The conclusion of the thesis will postulate that, through a series of subtle but carefully-considered alterations, the adaptors not only translated but also re-appropriated their source material for its Irish audience. It will also briefly consider some of the numerous avenues for additional exploration of the tradition of Charlemagne in Ireland. Acknowledgements First and foremost I would like to thank my supervisors Ms Abigail Burnyeat and Professor Philip Bennett for their invaluable knowledge, guidance and endless patience throughout this process. I am especially appreciative of the latter’s instruction in Old French. I am also grateful to the Société Rencesvals for their generous support and assistance in contextualising the wider Fierabras tradition. Finally, I must take the opportunity to express my appreciation to my family— especially my parents Mr Randall Copeland and Ms Elizabeth McBride—and friends Dr Sarah Shewmaker, Dr Fiona Suslak and Dr Yolande Stolte. Without their skill in proof- reading this thesis would have been less accurate; without their unceasing encouragement, it would not have been possible. Table of Contents Introduction 1 Chapter 1: Manuscripts Introduction 6 Methodology 11 Description of Manuscripts and their Contents 14 Problems of Transmission and Reordering 33 Analysis of Compilatory Context 35 Conclusion 48 Chapter 2: Translation Techniques The Shaping of Medieval Translation Theory 49 Irish Translations 54 Gesta Karoli Magni and Stair Fortibrais: The Direction of Influence 61 Methodology 66 The Battle of Kings: A Case Study 67 General Scribal Practice 71 Addition 72 Reordering 73 Reduction/Omission 91 Substitution 116 Errors 124 Translation Errors 124 Narrative Errors 132 Conclusion 142 Chapter 3: Characters and Important Themes Introduction and Methodology 144 Character Studies 146 Charles 146 Oliver 155 Roland 166 Ganelon 176 Fierabras/Fortibras 182 Floripas 189 Balan/Admirandus 191 Religion and the Supernatural 198 Relics 198 Prayers 206 Expressions of Piety 212 Magic 218 Historiography and Religion: A Geographical Case Study 226 Conclusion 242 Chapter 4: The Irish Contribution Introduction 244 Political 244 Rank 244 Feudal Duties 252 Cultural 255 Family 255 Unity 260 Moderate Behaviour 265 Conclusion 269 Conclusion 271 Appendices 274 Tablular Summary of Manuscript Data 274 Comparative Summaries of the Narrative in Fierabras and Stair Fortibrais 275 List of Geographical Locations in Fierabras and Stair Fortibrais 284 Bibliography 288 1 Introduction Despite a recent increase of academic interest in both medieval Irish translation literature and in depictions of Charlemagne throughout Europe, Stair Fortibrais, the Irish fifteenth-century prose adaptation of the twelfth-century chanson de geste Fierabras has received very little scholarly attention.1 While some works such as Erich Poppe’s Of Cycles and Other Critical Matters: Some Issues in Medieval Irish Literary History and Criticism mention it briefly as supporting evidence,2 the only study dedicated to the Irish Fierabras tradition is Michael Davies’ unpublished thesis 'Fierabras