The Sea's Agency in French Medieval Literature. Katherine Snider Doctoral candidate, French

The Sea's Agency in French Medieval Literature Katherine Snider Doctoral candidate, French kas13@uw.edu

What? The Sea s Agency in the French Alexander Romance Agency: capacity to act on others or one s surroundings, with or without intent So What? Why is this agency remarkable? What now? Why study the environment in medieval literature?

Key message How the environment acts in medieval literature: a nuanced perspective on the Middle Ages a historical understanding of the humanenvironment relationship

Which Alexander the Great? Alexander Mosaic, detail. Origin: House of the Faun in Pompeii, c. 100 BCE. National Archaeological Museum, Naples.

French Alexander Romance Historia de proeliis, translated in French as La vraie ystoire dou bon roi Alixandre, and other romances. Origin Central France, c. 1340. British Library, Royal 19 D I, fol. 38

Vincent de Beauvais, Speculum historiale (Miroir historiale). Trad. Jean de Vignay, enluminures du Maître François, 1463. BNF, Manuscrits, Fr. 50 fol. 55v

la mers enrougi par cele destinee Que en li prist l engieng de la gerre aduree Et d enbuschier agais dedens selve ramee, Dont sans fu espandus par tant mainte contree. the sea turned red due to this destiny, that [the sea] would teach him ruses of harsh warfare and ambushes in leafy forests, which would cause the blood of many countries to be spilled. Alexandre de Paris (de Bernai). Le Roman d'alexandre. Trans. Laurence Harf-Lancner. Paris: Livre de Poche: Lettres Gothiques, 1994. Branch I, laisse 3, v78-84. Emphasis & translation mine.

Historia de proelis in a French translation (Le Livre et le vraye hystoire du bon roy Alixandre), c.1420 Central France. British Library Royal 20 B XX, fol. 77v

Historia de proeliis, translated in French as La vraie ystoire dou bon roi Alixandre, and other romances. Origin Central France, c. 1340. British Library, Royal 19 D I, fol. 37v

So what? Why is this agency surprising? «Que en li prist l engieng» [the sea] would teach him ruses (v.79)

Why is this agency surprising? Great Chain of Being. Didacus Valades, Rhetorica Christiana, 1579.

What factors account for this agency? God gives John a measuring rod: the temple on the right. The Apocalypse in Anglo- Norman with commentary and with the prologue of Gilbert de la Porrée translated into Anglo-Norman. 1 st quarter 14 th cen. Origin: S.E. England. The Old Royal Library, fol. 18v.

What factors account for this agency? Sandro Botticelli, Primavera (Allegory of Spring), c.1482. Uffizi Gallery, Florence.

Alexander crowned by two bishops. Historia de proelis in a French translation (Le Livre et le vraye hystoire du bon roy Alixandre), c.1420 Central France. British Library Royal 20 B XX, fol.14

What now? Environmental Humanities + Medieval Studies «La geste ou histore du noble roy Alixandre, roy de Macedonne,» traduite d'un «livre rimet,... intitulé l'istore Alixandre,» par ordre de «Jehan de Bourgongne, conte d'estampes» 1401-1500, BNF Français 9342, fol.182r

Key message How the environment acts in medieval literature: increased understanding of the Middle Ages historical context for the human-environmental relationship

Time s Up! About you: Name: Katherine A. Snider Department: French Contact Information: kas13@uw.edu Quick bio: Katherine Snider is completing her doctoral studies at the University of Washington, Seattle, where she also received her Master's in French Studies and where she is Lead TA of the French department.