MST201 - Meagan
Dublin Core
Title
MST201 - Meagan
Subject
My exhibit will focus on Bisclavret in Marie de France’s lai, Bisclavret. In this lai, Marie highlights how Bisclavret differs from ancient traditions of werewolves and instead emerges from the “werewolf renaissance of the twelfth century” (Bynum, pg. 1000) which paints such werewolves as “sympathetic” ones. That is, whereas the longstanding tradition of ancient werewolves involves a human becoming a wild and senseless animal, the type of “sympathetic” werewolves described in stories such as Bisclavret, Topographia Hibernica and Twilight entail the metamorphosis of an individual into lupine form while maintaining their internal human consciousness and intellectual abilities. Therefore, this exhibit will serve to illustrate the progression of werewolves through time, beginning with Bisclavret and this marvel's depiction in the 12th century, to modern day entertainment literature.
Description
Bisclavret, lines 145-177:
His eye, distinguishing, could see
the king; to beg his clemency
he seized the royal stirrup, put
a kiss upon the leg and foot.
The king, observing, felt great fear.
Calling his men, he cried, “Come here!”
“Lords!” he said, “Come and look at this!
See what a marvel is this kiss,
this humble, gracious gesturing!
That’s a man’s mind; it begs the king
for mercy. Now, drive back the hounds!
See that none strike or give it wounds.
This beast has mind; it has intent.
Come, hurry up! It’s time we went.
I’ll give protection for this beast.
And for today, the hunt has ceased.”
The king had turned around, at that;
following him, the bisclavret
close by; he would not lose the king,
abandon him, for anything.
The king then led the beast, to bring
it to the castle, marvelling,
rejoicing at it, for he’d never,
seen such a wondrous creature, ever.
He loved the wolf and held it dear
and he charged every follower
that, for his love, they guard it well
and not mistreat the animal.
No one must strike it; and, he’d said
it must be watered and well fed.
Gladly his men now guarded it.
Among the knights, the bisclavret
now lived, and slept close by the king;
His eye, distinguishing, could see
the king; to beg his clemency
he seized the royal stirrup, put
a kiss upon the leg and foot.
The king, observing, felt great fear.
Calling his men, he cried, “Come here!”
“Lords!” he said, “Come and look at this!
See what a marvel is this kiss,
this humble, gracious gesturing!
That’s a man’s mind; it begs the king
for mercy. Now, drive back the hounds!
See that none strike or give it wounds.
This beast has mind; it has intent.
Come, hurry up! It’s time we went.
I’ll give protection for this beast.
And for today, the hunt has ceased.”
The king had turned around, at that;
following him, the bisclavret
close by; he would not lose the king,
abandon him, for anything.
The king then led the beast, to bring
it to the castle, marvelling,
rejoicing at it, for he’d never,
seen such a wondrous creature, ever.
He loved the wolf and held it dear
and he charged every follower
that, for his love, they guard it well
and not mistreat the animal.
No one must strike it; and, he’d said
it must be watered and well fed.
Gladly his men now guarded it.
Among the knights, the bisclavret
now lived, and slept close by the king;
Creator
Meagan O'Brien
Source
Burgess, Glyn S. and Busby Keith. Bisclavret, "The Lais of Marie de France", 1986.
Date
ca. 1150-1200 CE
Contributor
Meagan O'Brien
Language
English
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