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THE ROMANCES

The Alliterative Revival

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CLASSIFICATION

The very great number ! rman"e# "an

be "la##i!ie$ a""r$ing t #ub%e"t&

' The Matter of England

' The Matter of Rome

' The Matter of France

' The Matter of Britain

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The Matter ! Englan$

King Horn()*th "entury+

Havelok the Dane()*th "entury, -ith

minr revi#in# at the beginning ! ).th+ Guy of Warwick(early ).th "entury+

/0ealing -ith Engli#h hi#try1

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The Matter ! Rme

King Alisaunder(2&333 line#+& C& )*33,

!un$ in a manu#"ri4t 3! )**3'.3&

The Seege [Siege of Troye(5&333line#+

/Cla##i"al theme#1

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The Matter ! Fran"e

Song of !oland()*th "entury+

The "eru#$ras Grou%($ealing -ith

in"i$ent# !un$ in Fren"h chansons degestean$ Charlemagne legen$#+

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The Matter ! 6ritain

Fa#"inatin -ith the i$ea ! 7ing Arthuran$ hi# 7night#&

0evel4ment ! Arthurian legen$#&

Fren"h )5th "entury #ur"e# (Marie $eFran"e an$ Chr8tien $e Trye#+&

Chivalry an$ Curtly lve&

Sir Gawain and the Green Knighti# the!ine#t e9am4le ! all Mi$$le Engli#hrman"e#&

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S&! GAWA&' A'D TH( G!(('

K'&GHT

Alliterative Revival

Rman"e ! the 5n$ hal! ! ).th "entury

5&:*3 line# Annymu#; The authr i# et, 4rbably brn in the nrth'-e#t Mi$lan$#&

Manu#"ri4t in the 6riti#h Library& Itin"lu$e# * 4em# by the #ame authr;)earl* )urityan$ )atience

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Very gay was this great man guised all in green,

and the hair of his head with his horses accorded:

fair flapping locks enfolding his shoulders,

a big beard like a bush over his breast hanging

that with the handsome hair from his head falling

Such a mount on middle-earth, or man to ride him,

was never beheld in that hall with eyes ere that time;

for there

his glance was as lightning bright,

so did all that saw him swear;

no man would have the might,

they thought, his blows to bear