Trouvère

trouvère

One of a school of poets that flourished in northern France from the 11th to the 14th century. Trouvères were the counterparts in the language of northern France (the langue d'oïl) to the Provençal troubadour. Of either aristocratic or humble origins, they were originally connected with feudal courts but later found middle-class patrons. Noted for such forms as the chanson de geste, their works are generally narratives; their basic subject was courtly love. Trouvères pleased their audiences by combining stylized themes and traditional metrical forms rather than by originality of expression. The lyrics were intended to be sung, by the poet alone or accompanied by a hired musician.

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Trouvère 

a French poet-singer of the 12th and 13th centuries. The trouvères flourished in northern France, primarily Pi-cardy, at the courts of the feudal aristocracy. They composed and performed their own songs and wrote narrative and dramatic works. Their poetry, closely tied to folk art, was influenced by the Provençal troubadours and cultivated similar genres (seePROVENÇAL LITERATURE). Although distinguished by metrical and rhythmic simplicity, the poetry of the trouvères was reflective and not as emotionally direct as the Provençal lyric. The most famous trouvères were Chrétien de Troyes (c. 1130–c. 1191), Jean Bodel (late 12th century), and the Anglo-Norman poet Marie de France (late 12th century), all of whom composed courtly romances. The poetic art of the trouvères influenced 14th-century poetry.

PUBLICATIONS

Altfranzôsische Bibliothek, vols. 1–16. Edited by W. Foerster. Heilbronn-Leipzig, 1879–1913.
In Russian translation:
In V. Shishmarev, Kniga dlia chteniia po istorii frantsuzskogo iazyka. Moscow-Leningrad, 1955. Pages 112–68.

REFERENCES

Istoriia frantsuzskoi literatury, vol. 1. Moscow-Leningrad, 1946. Pages 93–97.
Shishmarev, V. Lirika i lirikipozdnego srednevekov’ia. Paris, 1911.
Aubry, P. Trubadury i truvery. Moscow, 1932. (Translated from French.)
Jeanroy, A. Les Origines de la poésie lyrique en France au moyen age, 4th ed. Paris, 1965.
Jeanroy, A. Bibliographie sommaire des chansonniers français du moyen age. Paris, 1918.

V. S. LOZOVETSKII