MARIE DE FRANCE’S ELIDUC: AN EXAMPLE OF 12TH-CENTURY TRANSNATIONAL LITERARY CHARACTER?
MARIE DE FRANCE’S ELIDUC: AN EXAMPLE OF 12TH-CENTURY TRANSNATIONAL LITERARY CHARACTER?

Summary/Abstract: In this article, I have tried to analyse to what extent Eliduc, the protagonist of the ‘lai’ with the same name written by Marie de France, can be considered a transnational hero and if such a theme as nationality is relevant to 12th-century Britain. As Marie de France translated her lais from Breton into Anglo- Norman (French), it goes without saying that both the audience and the author were aware of a linguistic difference, but the most difficult part was the “translation” or rather the interaction between different mentalities, from different geographical and social backgrounds. After reading Adrian Hasting’s theory, I have come to the conclusion that although the matter of nationality is relevant to the 12th-century Western Europe, this issue cannot be clearly determined in the narrative of the lai, as there are many contradictory aspects in Eliduc’s behaviour. However if one also considers the intended audience of the lai, the idea of nationality is made more obvious, as several elements which belong to the Anglo-Norman chivalric code (like actions dictated by fin’amour) are contrasted with details which may be associated with a specific Celtic background (for instance a harmonious blending of magical and Christian beliefs). The superiority of the Christian element (which is common to both mentalities in different ways) is made obvious by all the main characters’ final retreat from worldly pleasures, in order to embrace a monastic life. My conclusion is that Eliduc is a Celtic (Breton) hero, ingeniously transformed for an Anglo-Norman audience and his actions are the result of these two influences. Even though the nationality of the main characters is not clearly defined, they are people who are comfortable in a different environment than their native one.

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