The Song of Roland: Formulaic Style and Poetic Craft

The Song of Roland: Formulaic Style and Poetic Craft by Joseph J. Duggan offers a groundbreaking reevaluation of one of medieval Europe’s most celebrated epics. Long regarded as a touchstone of French literary tradition, the Chanson de Roland has fueled debates over whether its artistry reflects a single authorial genius or a collective oral inheritance. Duggan brings to this problem a rigorous analysis of formulaic language, employing computer-assisted concordances and statistical study to...