Song of Roland Unknown Memory Verse • Psalm 25 • This week, can you recite verses 1-10? Imagine • Read Summary from Omnibus! Conflict • What has been the greatest conflict of the past century? Conflict • What has been the greatest conflict of the past century? • Communism and Democracy • Liberalism and Conservatism • Socialism and Capitalism • Rich and Poor • Proletariat and Bourgeoisie • Industrialism and Agrarianism • Nationalism and Colonialism • Management and Labor • First World and Third World • East and West • North and South Allied and Axis • NATO and Soviet Conflict • The greatest conflict of the past century, even the past millennium, has been between: • Islam and Civilization • Islam and Freedom • Islam and Order • Islam and Progress • Islam and Hope • Islam and the Gospel Conflict • Every other conflict pitting men and nations against one another has inevitably waxed and waned • This furious struggle has remained all too constant • The tension between Islam and every aspiration and yearning of man intrudes on nearly every issue, every discipline, every epoch and every local Author • Le Chason de Roland or The Song of Roland • One of the most famous medieval French chivalric ballads, known as chansons de geste – literally, “songs of deeds” • Traditional folk musicians and minstrels would travel from town to town singing about the epic adventures of great heroes from the past • About a hundred of these popular epic poems survived, from the 11th to the 15th century • We don’t know who the various composers were or even when the poem took its present form Author • It would seem there was a single, final editor who took various strands from the popular oral tradition and wove them together into its final form • Sometime between AD 1098-1100 • During the time of the First Crusade Setting • The poem describes events that had occurred several centuries earlier, during the reign of the Frankish warrior-king Charlemagne • Almost NONE of the details of the poem are historically accurate • Charlemagne was not yet the emperor • The bandits who slaughtered the rear-guard of the army were Basques not Saracens • The invasion of the Spanish Moors was but a brief expedition, not a seven-year-long campaign • The rivalry between Roland and Ganelon never happened, in fact, there is good reason to suspect that the two men were not even alive at the same time Setting • What we do know! • August 15, 778 • Rearguard of Charlemagne’s Frankish army was ambushed and slaughtered in the Roncevaux of the Pyrenees Mountains while returning from a raid on Moorish garrisons in the northern Navarre and Leon Chivalry • Chivalry is a code of honorable conduct that need not necessarily be tied to any particular time or place or cultural context • A standard of virtuous behavior that has inspired great men and women through all the ages – causing them to long for a kinder, gentler society that abides by the conditions of genuine civilization • Originated in the early days of the medieval civilization in Europe when Christian men struggled to understand how they were to ethically respond to the threats posed against them by their unbelieving neighbors Chivalry • Drawing equally from: • The church’s established teaching on virtue • The examples of godly heroes of the faith • The emerging ideas of a “just war theory” • A kind of moral philosophy about society, manners and justice gradually emerged Chivalry • Song of Roland established and illustrated the notion that chivalry is the ideal code of ethnical behavior – ultimately based on Scripture that defines the limits of proper action toward friend and foe alike • For several generation of European Christians it was one of the most powerful means by which such cultural standards were woven into the hearts and lives of the people • It was an iconic symbol of chivalry and heroism while establishing a clear distinction between the ruthless barbarism of Islam and the charitable virtue of Christianity Chivalry • Song of Roland provided a sense of the ideal Christian warrior and held up a vision of principled righteousness in the midst of this poor, fallen world • This poem actually became a kind of social manifesto Characters • Charlemagne • Charles the Great (742-814) • King of the Franks, future emperor of the Holy Roman Empire • In the poem he is presented as the ideal Christian king • Also portrayed as Roland’s uncle • Roland • The hero and martyr • One of 12 Christian peers of France (we should notice how it brings to mind the twelve sons of Isaac and the twelve sons of Ishmael) • Charlemagne’s favorite • An ideal Christian knight Characters • Oliver • Another of the 12 peers of France • Roland’s best friend • Wise and prudent • Turpin • Archbishop who accompanies Charlemagne’s army • Courageous • Ganelon • Jealous stepfather of Roland • Well-respected Frankish baron • Betrays the rearguard of Charlemagne’s army Characters • Pinabel • Ganelon’s dear friend • Defends Ganelon at his trial • Aude • Oliver’s sister • Roland’s faithful fiancée Characters • Marsilion • Saracen king of the last Islamic stronghold to withstand the Franks • Quintessential villain • Bramimonde • Saracen queen • Loses faith in Islam following the defeat of the Saracen armies • Charlemagne decides to bring her back to Aix, she converts to Christainity • At her baptism, she takes the name Juliana Characters • Baligant • Emir of Babylon • Great hero of Islam • After being summoned to aid the Spanish Saracens, he arrives with an enormous army to do battle with Charlemagne • Blancandrin • Marsilion’s shrewd advisor • Plots a deceitful ruse to distract Charlemagne, that Marsilion will come to Aix and convert to Christianity to save their honor and lands • He is the messenger to deliver this peace offer • He and the Frank Ganelon plot together the ambush at Roncevaux Characters • Aelroth • Marsilion’s nephew • A brash Saracen warrior • A kind of evil twin to Roland • He leads the 12 Saracen lords in the ambush Islam and Terrorism – Text Analysis • Marsilion is first described as “the king who hates God’s name” • Laisse 1, lines 7-8 • He is the villain because he hates God • Blancandrin’s plan is to use deceit to lure Charlemagne and his men into a trap • Laisse 3-4, lines 24-61 • Marsilion sends his 10 most deceitful men to convince the Franks • Laisse 5, lines 68-69 Islam and Terrorism – Text Analysis • Roland does not trust the Saracen king because he has shown himself to be treacherous before, not because Marsilion is a Muslim • Laisse 14, lines 193-213 • Charlemagne decides to trust Marsilion because one of his dukes, Naimon, convinces him that, since Marsilion has been defeated and is asking to become a Christian, it would be a sin to refuse him • Laisse 16, line 240 • Ganelon and Blancandrin plan betrayal, they conspire to kill Roland, Ganelon is acting more like a Saracen, who have all been deceitful so far • Laisse 31, lines 402-404 Islam and Terrorism – Cultural Analysis • How does our culture say we ought to treat Muslims? Is that right? • What is the “war on terrorism”? Is it a war on Islam? • Does our culture believe that there is any link between terrorism and Islam? Islam and Terrorism – Biblical Analysis • In the Bible, what is war for? • Exodus 17:16; Deuteronomy 7:1, 2 • In the Great War seen in the Bible, what is the first attack of the serpent? • Genesis 3 • Is this similar to what the Saracens do in The Song of Roland? • What does Psalm 2 say about the wicked and war? • How does this relate to Islam? Bravery vs. Foolhardiness – Text Analysis • When under attack, Oliver asks Roland to blow his horn and call for the rest of the army’s help, Roland refuses because he would be ashamed of calling for help when help was not needed, he says he would rather die than shame France • Laisses 83-86, lines 1049-1109 • When Oliver dies, Roland weeps as a righteous man who has lost a friend • Laisse 150, lines 2022-2023 • Due to Roland not calling for help, the Franks lose many men • Laisse 140, line 1863 Bravery vs. Foolhardiness – Text Analysis • Roland’s death is the great tragedy of the entire work, his death is his own fault, because he does not blow the horn to summon help • Laisse 175, lines 2366-2372 • Roland eventually wishes that he had blown the horn earlier • Laisse 148, lines 1982-1987 • Roland does not act wisely because he does not call for help when he should have, he is brave, because of his confidence in battle, but it is Oliver that is wise • Laisse 87, lines 1093-1094 Bravery vs. Foolhardiness – Cultural Analysis • What if Roland were a modern-day American soldier, and he and his men had been surrounded by the enemy in a surprise attack? • Let’s imagine that he had the opportunity to call for reinforcements, but he decided not to do so, and all of the soldiers were killed. He had not called for help because he did not want to shame his country. What do you think the response of our culture would be? • What sort of bravery is praised in our culture? • What sort of foolhardiness is praised in our culture? Bravery vs. Foolhardiness – Biblical Analysis • Was David being brave or foolish when he confronted Goliath? • 1 Samuel 17 • Read Numbers 14. After Moses explains the Israelites’ punishment, they decide to invade the land after all. Was this bravery or foolhardiness? • How were Peter and John brave in Acts 4:1-31? • Why do you think they were brave? • According to the Bible, what does it mean to be brave? • Psalm 118:6-7 Reading Homework Supplemental Readings Son of Charlemagne (Optional) • all • Streams of Civilization • C 11: The Early Middle Ages: Feudalism through the end (244-247) • Church History in Plain Language • C 21: A Song to Lady Poverty • C 22: Sleeping Men and the Law of Necessity • C 23: Judgement in the Process of Time • Words of Delight • none Engrade Homework • none Memory Homework • Psalm 25 • This week memorize verses 11-12, adding them to verses 1-10 from previous weeks.