It has been demonstrated more than once that it is essential to pay special attention to the division of medieval works by initial letters. In fact, the initial letter represents the most widespread means of dividing medieval texts into meaningful units and, therefore, of giving them structure and meaning. In a work which, like the Bestiaire d'amour by Richard de Fournival, gives rise to several interpretations, this function of initial letters appears clearly: the arrangement of initial letters, varying from one manuscript to another, accentuates the different ways of perceiving the meaning of the work. - [Author]

Part 2 consists mostly of tables comparing manuscripts.

Language: French