MFL

‘And they were just roommates’: a queer reading of medieval French chansons de geste 🏳️‍🌈

A chanson de geste is an early medieval form of French literature, most popular in the 12th century, that consists of a long narrative song.  Written in uneven laisses rather than perfectly metric stanzas, the chansons de geste served as a less formal antidote to the (often very long-winded) medieval romance.  Today, we’re going to focus on two chansons de geste: the Chanson de Roland and Ami et Amile.  The Chanson de Roland describes a war between Charles, emperor of France, and the Saragossa region of Spain; during the battle, the courageous Roland (Charles’ nephew) fights valiantly but his troops are overcome by the Spanish forces, and eventually he dies on the battlefield.  In Ami et Amile, the two protagonists (Ami and Amile) are prophesied to be the most loyal noblemen, and they spend seven years in search of each other; when they meet, their lives become heavily intertwined, leaving both of them with marital problems as they prioritise their relationship with each other over their wives, and prove that they are willing to go to any lengths – including sacrificing their children – to preserve their close bond.

💡 Things to consider

• Homosocial desire: This is a theory developed by Eve Sedgwick, a queer theorist, in her book Between Men.  Riffing off René Girard’s notion of triangular desire (in Deceit, Desire and the Novel), Sedgwick proposes that often in literature, when a man loves a woman, the woman’s role in this equation is actually to solidify a bond between her lover/husband and another man.  As such, she suggests that this blurs boundaries between a ‘homosocial’ relationship (one that privileges platonic relationships by men as the foundation of social status) and a homosexual relationship.  Could Sedgwick’s theory be applied to medieval French chansons de geste?

• Implicit homosexuality in the chansons de geste: In the Chanson de Roland, a very close friendship forms between Roland and Oliver, one of the other knights, and when Oliver dies, Roland’s grief is expressed in highly exaggerated terms, saying that he can’t bear the thought of being alive without Oliver.  Likewise, Roland appears to prioritise his friendship with Oliver over his wife, Aude. Suspicious… Even more blatantly though, in Ami et Amile, every time they meet is characterised by extensive hugging and kissing, in locations that become gradually more secluded, culminating in them lying together in a field of wheat.  The author of Ami et Amile never explicitly states that this is anything more than a strong bond of friendship, but the reader (especially a modern one) perhaps can’t help but wonder if this is all that is at play, especially considering that the work’s title juxtaposes their names, bringing the pair immediately to the forefront of the narrative.

• Loyalty between men in medieval France: In the feudal society of medieval France, male-male loyalty was of paramount importance. As such, men with loyal bonds were often described as frères (brothers), indicating the close ties that they had; however, in Ami et Amile, instead of being described as frères, they are described consistently as amis or compagnons (both words that mean ‘friend’, but, in their modern French forms, can also denote ‘boyfriend’), perhaps implying an even greater level of intimacy between them. Furthermore, these male-male bonds can perhaps be compared to a form of marriage in terms of solemnity, and, interestingly, Ami and Amile manage to maintain a monogamous friendship, but Ami does not manage to remain loyal to his wife. Could this suggest that a male-male ‘friendship’ was even stronger than marriage?

🔎 Find out more

• Read the Chanson de Roland (Song of Roland) or Ami et Amile (Amis and Amiles), both available in several editions either in English translation, modern French translation, or the original Old French

• Sedgwick, E., Between Men: English Literature and Male Social Desire (New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 1985)

• Kocher, S., ‘Gay Knights in Medieval French Fiction: Constructs of Queerness and Non-Transgression’, Mediaevalia, vol. 29, no. 1 (2008), pp. 51-66

• Burgwinkle, B., ‘Queer Theory and the Middle Ages’, French Studies, vol. 60, no. 1 (2006), pp. 79-88

• Kay, S., ‘Ethics and Heroics in the Song of Roland’, Neophilologus, vol. 62, no. 4 (1978), pp. 480-491

• Kay, S., ‘Seduction and Suppression in ‘Ami et Amile’’, French Studies, vol. 44, no. 2 (1990), pp. 129-142

• Kay, S., The ‘Chansons de geste’ in the Age of Romance: Political Fictions (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1995)

• a YouTube video summarising Sedgwick’s theory of homosocial desire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5kRS6ltL6s

PHILOSOPHY

How do we know the sun will RISE tomorrow? 🌞

Ever wondered why we trust the sun will rise tomorrow? It seems like a sure thing, right? But according to 18th-century philosopher David Hume, that certainty might be a bit shaky. How in the world (or the sun) will he manage to pull this argument off?!

💡 Things to consider

• Types of reasoning: To understand Hume’s argument, it’s important to understand the difference between inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning proceeds from a set of general premises to a specific conclusion that is guaranteed to be true if the premises are true. It follows a logical structure where the conclusion necessarily follows from the starting assumptions. Here’s a famous example: "All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is mortal."

• Hume’s Argument: Hume isn’t really butting heads with deductive reasoning. Instead, he’s got a gripe with inductive reasoning (Hume’s argument is often referred to as the ‘Problem of Induction’!) An inductive inference takes as input beliefs about previous observations/events, and outputs a belief about unobserved objects/events. For example, we see the sun rise every day, so we conclude it will rise tomorrow. However, Hume argues that this logic isn’t foolproof. Just because something has always happened a certain way doesn't guarantee it always will. Maybe tomorrow, the laws of physics decide to take a permanent vacation tomorrow, and the sun won’t actually rise!

• WTH are we meant to do then?!: Does this mean we can’t believe anything to be true now? Perhaps, but perhaps not. Firstly, we could actually try to defend inductive reasoning. Can past experiences, even if not logically conclusive, provide a strong basis for belief? If so/if not, what does this say about the scientific method (scientists use evidence and experimentation to build reliable knowledge despite the limitations Hume highlights? Are there any other ways to defend inductive reasoning?

🔎 Find out more

• The Problem of Induction

• University of Oxford Lecture: 3.3 The Problem of Induction

• Carneades: The Problem of Induction

🍒 The cherry on top

• 👃 Can AI unlock the secrets of smell?: Scientists are using AI to create a "map" of odours, revealing how different molecules trigger specific responses in our brains. Check out this article if you’re especially interested in Neuroscience.

• 🎬 Spanish Cinema: From its early days to modern masterpieces, Spanish films offer a unique window into the country's rich 500-year history. This article explores the captivating world of Spanish cinema, diving into themes of revolution, culture, and social change. A great read if you’re interested in Spanish, Film Studies, or History!

• 😷 The Great Stink: This podcast dives into the horrific summer of 1858, when London's River Thames became an open sewer. The stench was unbearable, prompting action from Parliament and leading to the incredible sewer system designed by Joseph Bazalgette. Great if you’re interested in History!

👀 Keep your eyes peeled for…

• 3rd June:

  • Homerton College Cambridge Medicine Subject Focus Session

• 4th June:

  • Oxford History Teacher Workshop

  • Oxford Webinar: Where can a degree in English take you?

  • Pembroke College Cambridge Biology Webinar

  • Pembroke College Cambridge History Webinar

  • King’s College Cambridge Intro to Cambridge Webinar

• 5th June:

  • Pembroke College Cambridge Geography Webinar

• 6th June:

  • UEA English Literature Webinar: Shakespearean Tragedy

  • Sidney Sussex College Cambridge Webinar for Teachers and Advisors

  • 'Life as a Cambridge Vet Student' webinar

  • Homerton College Cambridge Engineering Subject Focus Session

  • Pembroke College Cambridge Modern and Medieval Languages Webinar

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