LANVAL
Who is Lanval’s king?
King Arthur
Who wrote both Lanval and Chevrefoil?
Marie de France.
Who are the two lovers in Chevrefoil?
Tristan and Iseult.
Who is Lanval’s lover?
The fairy lady
What type of medieval literature are both stories?
Breton lais.
Who banishes Tristan?
King Mark
What does Lanval promise his lover?
To keep her secret
What major conflict do both stories have in common?
Personal love vs. society. Both stories show characters whose relationships conflict with social rules or expectations.
What does Tristan use as a signal?
A marked hazel branch
What word does Lanval call his lover?
Amie
What major conflict do both stories have in common?
In Lanval, the fairy lady and the supernatural world represent an alternative to Arthur’s court. In Chevrefoil, the hazel and honeysuckle symbolize Tristan and Iseult’s connection.
Why is the lovers’ relationship difficult in Chevrefoil?
Their love conflicts with social expectations because Iseult is married to King Mark and Tristan has been banished.
Where does Lanval go with his lover?
Avalon
What is one important difference between how love is shown in Lanval and Chevrefoil?
In Lanval, love gives Lanval an escape from Arthur’s court and ultimately leads him into the fairy world. In Chevrefoil, Tristan and Iseult’s love keeps them connected, but they still have to meet secretly because of their social circumstances.
Why is the hazel and honeysuckle image important to understanding Tristan and Iseult’s relationship?
The plants represent how closely connected the lovers are. Like the hazel and honeysuckle, they depend on each other and cannot easily be separated, showing that their love is still there even though there are barriers around them.