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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
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