Weaving Narrative: Clothing in Twelfth-Century French Romance

by Monica L. Wright

Overview

Enide’s tattered dress and Erec’s fabulous coronation robe; Yvain’s nudity in the forest, which prevents maidens who know him well clothed from identifying him; Lanval’s fairy—lady parading about in the Arthurian court, scantily dressed, for all to observe: just why is clothing so important in twelfth—century French romance? This interdisciplinary book explores how writers of this era used clothing as a signifier with multiple meanings for many narrative purposes. Clothing figured prominently in twelfth—century France, where exotic fabrics and furs came to define a social elite. Monica Wright shows that representations of clothing are not mere embellishments to the text; they help form the textual weave of the romances in which they appear. This book is about how these descriptions are constructed, what they mean, and how clothing becomes an active part of romance composition—the ways in which writers use it to develop and elaborate character, to advance or stall the plot, and to structure the narrative generally.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780271035666
Publisher:	Penn State University Press
Publication date:	02/15/2010
Series:	Penn State Romance Studies , #10
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Monica L. Wright is the Joseph P. Montiel Assistant Professor of French at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Table of Contents

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. Romance and the Fabric of Feudal Society: Conjointure and Change

2. Material Matters: Clothing in Changing Contexts

3. Dressing Up the Character: The Elucidation of Characters Through Clothing

4. Clothing Acts and the Movement from Code to Signifying System

5. Clothing as a Structuring, Thematic, and Narrative Device: The Art of Weaving Romance

Conclusion

Bibliography

Index

Editorial Reviews

In remarkably fluid prose, Wright brilliantly demonstrates that vestimentary depictions in twelfth—century French romance functioned as signifiers with multiple levels of meaning. This book weaves a solid connection between material culture and literary expression during a crucial period in the development of vernacular literature in the Middle Ages.”

—Logan E. Whalen, University of Oklahoma

“Wright’s remarkable analysis of clothing and vestimentary acts in twelfth—century French romance yields stunning new insights into works we thought we knew by heart. Relating the history of costume and material culture to the process of writing, Wright skillfully reveals how clothing is worked into the very weave of the text, which it both structures and embellishes.”

—Joan Tasker Grimbert, The Catholic University of America

“Wright presents some truly intriguing arguments, showing that the twelfth—century nobility's attempts to reinforce their dominant status through the purchasing of luxury clothing ironically fuelled the ascension of the merchant classes who were their social rivals. Her investigation of the ways in which clothing both challenges and reinforces norms of gender, class, and identity in romance is complex and thorough, as are her explorations of vestimentary sign—systems and narrative structure. . . . this is a work of true originality, and will no doubt prove to be of great use to literary critics, historians of costume, and medievalists in general.”

—Alex Stuart Medium Aevum

“[Wright] offers strategies for effectively reading clothing in medieval romance, explaining why on earth it is there, and how it is far from mere digression or decoration. Her enthusiasm for clothing description and its role in narrative is infectious. She invites the reader to share in a textual world she finds dazzling. Wright achieves something important in her systematic analysis of clothing’s functions in romance. The reading system she presents deserves to be applied to a broader array of texts.”

—Sarah—Grace Heller H—France Book Reviews

“Through beautifully written prose, insightful literary analysis, and a wealth of sociocultural and historical references, Monica Wright demonstrates that clothing plays an integral and multivalent role in twelfth—century French romances.”

—Paula Mae Carns Arthuriana

“[Weaving Narrative] provides a fascinating lens through which to look at twelfth—century literary creation.”

—R. Natasha Amendola Parergon

From the Publisher