forum:
I would like to ask you to compare the selected passages from Gower's version of the Apollonius tale with their counterpart in the Latin Historia Apollonii and see how they are transformed.
We have noted the aspects in which the Latin narrative resonates with some dominant plot patterns of romance, and we'll be discussing those that make it potentially unpromising as "romance material". Does Gower make any steps towards a "romancing" of his material (expand on the observations you have made on the previous "assignment")?
session:
We will continue the debate with what I would call "cultural translation" >
I have asked you to take note of the admittedly marginal changes the Old English translator makes in his rendering of the Latin narrative. Gower adapts the story in a much more radical fashion.
I'd like to ask you to note such instances, whether they concern the representation of specific incidents, the characterization of the protagonist(s) or the portrayal of the social context.
Look for points of contact with the texts we have read previously (= the chivalric romance).
Don't try to cover everything: choose what you consider most important / conspicuous / of special interest to you and comment on that.
week 7: Confessio amantis - the Apollonius story
When considering the tranformation of the selected scenes in both version of the Appolonius story, the differences that have caught my eye the most are as follows. First of all, it feels to me that the focus on lust (as a great sin and cause of misfortune) is much more present in Gower's version (and is contrasted with pure love). In this regard, we could mention the impact that Apollonius's leaving of Tyre has on his people as they cry out:
"Alas, this lusty flower of youth,
Our prince, our head, our governor,
The keeper of all our honor,
Without consent of anyone,
Is thus suddenly gone from us!"
Thus we can see that Apollonius's initial motivation of winning the princess is perceived as lustfull and he harms his people by disregarding them in his pursuit of the princess. Generally, the presence of God and Christian morality is more present in Gower's story.
Additionally, what to me felt very different in the Latin version and Gower's version is how Artestrathes' daughter falls in love with Apollonius, or rather, how the impact of love on her is depicted in Gower's version:
"Her heart is hot as any fire,
But other times is deathly cold;
Now she is red, now she is pale,
According to the condition
Of her mind’s imagination.
But always, among all her thoughts,
She thought, whatever might befall,
Whether she laughed or if she wept,
She would retain her own good name,
All for fear of womanly shame.
But if in earnest or in game,
She stood in such a plight, for love,
That she lost all her appetite
For meat, for drink, for a night’s rest,
Like one who knows not what is best;
And so she might have time to think,
She often kept herself alone
Within her room, not going out:
The king was in fear for her life,..."
We get no such intensity and realistic physical manifestation of love in the Latin version. In way I would say that pure love in the Latin version manifests itself more through wisdom, learned wit and rationality. Moreover, the king's daughter is explicit about her love for Apollonius in her letter to the suitors. What I found interesting is that on the other hand, the Latin version is generally more explicit when it comes to riddles. In the Latin version we learn both the riddle in Artestrathes' daughter's letter and Apollonius' daughter's riddles at the end. In Gower's version, we only hear the riddle of king Antiochus in the beginning. Lastly, i would like to compare some aspects of the characterisation of Thais. In Gower's version, the revelation of Thais as Apollonius' daughters (and his as her father), is achieved more thourgh God's purpose, not the characters inquiery. Thais does not actually know her past as well in Gower's version as in the Latin one, and she is prompted to tell her story by Apollonius himself, it not her initiative. She shares her story and her pains for the first time with Apollonius in Gower's story, whereas in the Latin version she tells her story of woe again and again to save her virginity when she is bought as a slave to be a prostitute. Generally, to me, Thais feels like a more developped and complex character in the Latin Historia Apollonii.
Unfortunately, I could not discuss the aspects in which the Latin narrative resonates with some dominant plot patterns of romance last session, however i would still like to attempt to pinpoint some possibilities of Gower's "romancing" of the story. Based on my reading of Gaunt's text (Romance and genre), I would argue that Gower's version is in a certain way in contact (and dialogue) with the genre of hagiography. By introducing themes specific to this genre and the Christian doctrine, new possible interpretation of the Apollonius story become availible in Gower's version, while still keeping the plotline of heroic deeds and the pursue of love more specific to romance. However, love might gain a different dimension as more types of it are distinguished and Christian morality is put forward. Moreover, as we can see in the passage quoted above, there might be a deeper insight into the characters' fellings and psychology (especially when it comes to love) present in Gower's version, which again could be seen as a feature of romance, as we have seen for instance in Chrétien's Yvain. Nevertheless, I would argue that the depiction of grief feels just as strong in both versions. To conclude, I think it would be perphaps interesting to talk about different approaches to love in the two versions (with an emphasis on wisdom in the Latin version) and their relation to the genre of romance.
Of this our worldly government,
Now mightily be provident
To seal His peace upon all lands
And take their cause into His hands,
So that the world may be appeased,
And His high Godhead too be pleased!
Generally speaking, I would say that the narrator is more present in this version than in the Latin one. The writing uses the “I” in the prologue and introduction. We can quote: "If I shall summon to my mind / Those olden days, then I shall find / How all the world was full of wealth..."
In the adventures of Apollonius, I didn't perceive any major difference (but I wasn't very comfortable with middle English). When the story of Apolonius' adventures begins, the narrator fades into the background, and the action moves more quickly. The story unfolds in much the same way.
Re: week 7: Confessio amantis - the Apollonius story
1) lust condemned and "lusty" Apollonius - do others likewise perceive criticism in Apollonius' being introduced as "he which in his hihe mod / Was likende of his hote blod, / A yong, a freissh, a lusti knyht"?
2) description of love - I would say that the language of love is similar in the Latin and in Gower: the Latin speaks of wounds of love ("wounded by fiercely burning passion") that eventually overcome the princess, Gower is more graphic but the intensity of the emotion seems comparable - unlike in the Old English rendering.
3) the riddles are a bit of a puzzle, because in the Latin they interfere with what, presumably, intrigues the audience - the recognition scene. So creating suspense?
4) Thaisa - I have nothing to add, really, you summed up the changes really well, though I'm not so sure about your conclusion (Thaisa as a more complex character in the Latin) - we should perhaps return to this and see how others think about it.
Gower being concerned with different kinds of love - you're absolutely right, and we'll definitely talk about this, if not today, then in the next session in discussing the framework for Confessio Amantis. As for the "approaches to love" - I'm not quite sure we can say that "pure love in the Latin version manifests itself more through wisdom, learned wit and rationality". We might say that these represent "lovable qualities" and attractions (the Pentapolis princess falls in love with Apollonius because of his learning and accomplishments), but manifestations of pure love? Do you think you would try to explain in the session?
I agree with Emma that Gower's version presents love and emotional attachment that is more intense and the characters are generally more "fleshed out". The Latin version, in comparison, has almost fairy-tale like quality which is more concerned with the hero's (moral) journey with romance as only one of its aspects.