week 3: Chrétien and its English redaction - the concerns of romance - continued

To illustrate the differences between the French and the English versions, I chose a famous extract: Yvain and Gawain recognizing each other during the fight.
If the events narrated in the passage are the same, the way of telling them presents some differences.
In the English version, the action seems more important than the characters’ thoughts and feelings. The dialogues are straight to the point. The rhythm is faster. The sentences are shorter. The intensity of the dialog is low. The lector is not in front of the protagonists’ inner sentiments. The only mention is “Sir Ywain was aghast”. Quickly, the action continues after the discovery of the situation. There is no stop to let the characters express their pain in the face of the misunderstanding.
On the other hand, the French version is more empathetic, theatrical. Characters express their inner feelings. Their reactions are more intense. It is illustrated by an important use of exclamatory sentences, as well as interrogative ones. Characters show they suffer to have been led by misfortune, and to have been powerless. We can quote, for example: « Alas! What mischance! ». We can highlight some verbs like: “Crying “ “ cries” “sighed” . The narration allows us to have access to the character’s violent feelings: « sorely troubled and amazed » « anger and sorrow mazed » « shame ».
However, to conclude, we can also find some similar points in the two versions. The narrator is present (ex: “my Lord Gawain” in the French one, “I believe” in the English one), the values of the knights are shown, as well as the brotherly and respectful relationship between them…

Of the more significant differences between the French and English versions of the narrative, I found each text’s treatment of Yvain’s forgetting of his promise to Alundyne the most notable. Moreover, I felt that this scene offers an example for how each version is different in how it contextualises Yvain’s actions in the narrative overall.
In both versions, Yvain is distracted by winning prizes in tournaments and maintaining his chivalric reputation in company with the other knights of Arthur’s court. However, while the English version summarises this as the usual activities of a knight, the French explicitly accuses Gawain of “[causing Yvain] to malinger” with the excuse of “[wishing] to do him honour.” One effect of this difference is the smoother cohesion and logic of the French narrative. Yvain’s forgetting of his promise in the English version casts the character in a negative light, conflicting with the expectations of a typical hero. Furthermore, his realisation is sudden and unexplained. Comparatively, Chretien’s narrator dedicates the aforementioned lines to create an explanation for Yvain’s misdeed, transferring the blame to Gawain. Through this several things are achieved. Yvain becomes excusable and his courtly love for Alundyne a more consistent quality. Yet paramount to this is the implicit conflict between Gawain and Yvain, creating a dynamic between the characters that generates dramatic tension. This is not found in the English version of the extract and thus draws attention to this version’s narrower focus on Yvain’s character in isolation. Though Yvain is not entirely independent, Chretien’s alternative approach demonstrates a greater interaction with the broader cast of the Arthurian legend. Looking beyond my chosen extract, I would argue that this is also evident in the French version’s overall narrative voice which is more likely to turn its attention away from Yvain for the sake of explaining the actions of other characters.
As such, the French version ultimately presents Yvain’s actions as more dependent on the motives of the other characters surrounding him than the English account.

I would like to highlight the difference of depiction of the moment when Lunet departs from Aurthur’s court, leaving Yvain in mourning of his mistake. The English version is in my opinion dull, it uses the same vocabulary repeatedly and evokes little true emotion which the reader could physically envision. The lines read thus: “When Sir Ywain heard this, / he was stricken with sorrow / and nothing could stop his mourning, / which nearly drove him mad. / Nothing could comfort him; / he had come to nothing, / sorrow confused his wits and he knew / he had caused his own destruction: / “Alas that I was born. / I have lost my love / on account of my own folly. / I will die from this grief!” / An evil took him / and he grew mad from his woe; / he went into the forest, / walking about like a wild beast.” (1637- 1651). “Sorrow” is repeated twice, “growing” “driving mad” as well, “mourning” is quite a bland word. The passage focusses getting the emotions across to the reader swiftly, counting on the fact that everybody can in some way envision the emotions. It tries to overcome this dullness by the addition of direct speech but in comparison to Chrétien’s version, even that seems shallow.
When Chrétien depict the emotions, he does not only tell you how Gawain mourns, he shows you. He depicts the moment thus: “… his sorrow is ever increasing, / And all that he sees torments him. / He would rather be exiled alone, / In deep seclusion, and all unknown, / Banished to some savage place, / Where none would ever see his face, / … if he’d plunged in the abyss. / For he hates most the thing he is, / And knows not where to find relief / From himself who’s his own grief. / He’d be a madman not to take / Vengeance now, for his dire mistake, / Upon himself, who his joy hath lost. / He removes himself from the host, / Fearing madness, if he remain, / … he cares naught for aught they say, / Nor hath need of their company; / While he goes wandering, till he / Is far from tents and pavilions. / Then such a made tempest rages on / Inside his head that all sense is lost, / He tears his flesh, and naked almost, / Flees through the fields and valleys,” (p.3-4). There are two important differences, first the multitude of emotions, which are addressed not as plainly existing, but are described colourfully. Yvain is not simply in mourning; he cannot look at himself and others and would be rather banished into seclusion. Chrétien does not repeat himself; he uses opposing emotions to highlight the prevalence of the negative ones. The second important element through which Chrétien shows emotions is Yvain’s disregard for Arthur’s court, therefore Gawain, when Yvain realises his loss of Alundine. This establishes Yvain’s hierarchy of importance. Although there is no direct speech, Chrétien’s text reads more tragically and powerfully. But again, this colourful depiction of emotions is as the cost of the length of the passage.

Apart from the scenes already mentioned, another passage which stood out to me as illustrating the difference between the two version was the one capturing Yvain rescuing the lion from the dragon.
In the English version, the whole passage is treated in a more straightforward and less introspective way, with primary focus being given to the action. The emphasis is placed on the technical details of the actual fight (“Holding his shield in front of his face”, “he struck the dragon through from cheek to navel”, “Sir Ywain cut the tail in two” etc.), with little space being given to the hero’s internal conflict. Iwain quickly decides to rescue the lion and his motivation is reduced to the following: “The lion had little strength left to fight the dragon / so Sir Ywain prepared / to help him.” This version emphasizes the physical strength and courage of the hero, with his heroic exploits being given more space than the inner emotional turmoil which is explored in Chrétien’s version.
In contrast, the French version represents the whole incident with much richer psychological depth. Yvain sees the lion being attacked by a serpent and hesitates briefly, torn between helping the lion or leaving it to its fate. Yvain’s decision is driven not just by his knightly duty but by emotion: “But, whatever might occur, / He would aid the lion first, / For pity urged him so to do”. This motivation helps to creates an image of a more compassionate and virtuous hero. Yvain’s decision to help the lion not only demonstrates his chivalry but also symbolizes his own moral journey. The lion then becomes not only a loyal companion but also an emblem of the knight's journey to redemption.

As with the rescue of the lion, I found a similar difference in the fight between Ywaine and the Senechal, or Steward in the English version. The English version of the melee is shorter, but much more focused on portraying Ywaine as heroic, while keeping the injured lion to portray his positive qualities, such as compassion. The French version offers a more theatrical portrayal, in keeping with the general style, with differences such as the portrayal of Ywaine as more injured himself. Ywaine is also portrayed as more vulnerable than in the English version, where the fight is more evenly matched on both sides: "And all three then make their stand,Thus slowly gaining the upper hand. Wounded all over, by their blades. The lion, watching Yvain defend himself, nor for his part was my lord Yvain waiting any longer to help his friend".

In the English version, it could be said that the lion serves more as a symbol of courage, allowing Yvaine to show his bravery and fighting skills, while in the French version, it serves more as a symbol of loyalty, allowing Yvaine to overcome adversity through its aid.