With this intention I have returned to study the texts and their commentaries: the texts especially. The result of this work was a discovery that astonished me myself, and which, if it resists, as I hope, the crucible of criticism, will allow us to consider the Roman de Renart in a new light. ... The first part deals with general points. I have treated the original question: 1° by discussing the opinion defended by Mr. Paulin Paris, that the Latin fables are the source of Renart; 2° by studying this question again: are the branches that we possess, yes or no, reworkings of older pieces. A translation of the German poem Reinhart Fuchs serves as a piece and support for this part. The second half of the work, the most extensive, the newest, and I hope the most interesting, deals with the works and life of Pierre de Saint-Cloud, a poet until now and almost unknown, and who nevertheless had such a great influence on the legend of Renart. Finally, lastly, I was led to speak of the Flemish poem of Renart, the Reinaert, to discuss its date, and to respond to certain reproaches that M. Paulin Paris believed he should address to foreign poets and to France who, in the Middle Ages, were occupied with Renart. ... Although the object of this study is limited to the French poems that the Middle Ages have bequeathed to us, and that are included under the general title of Roman de Renart, it seems necessary to go back to the origin of what could rightly be called, in its generality, the epic, or the legend of Renart. - [Author]

Language: French