"The Song of Roland"

Paper Summary:

This well-researched paper delves into the text of the poem which focuses on events that took place in medieval times during the reign of the Christian Emperor Charlemagne. The writer of this paper applies the normative-descriptive method of research in gathering, interpreting and analyzing material derived from an English translation of the actual poem as well as published accounts, criticisms and analyses of the actual text. This paper analyzes "The Song of Roland" as both a work of literature and as a tool of propaganda. This paper discusses the popular premise that the poet's main intent was to inflame the Christian community and turn it against the followers of Islam. This paper discusses the poet's obvious inclusion of incorrect historical facts and racial biases throughout the poem. The writer explores the author's obvious pro-Christian stance in this particular poem. This paper also examines the views and opinions of various historians and critics who suggest that this poem, written in the 11th century about events that took place in the 8th century is largely misunderstood by most readers.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
"The Song of Roland" as a Literary Work
"The Song of Roland" as a Propaganda Text
Conclusion
Bibliography

From the Paper:

"Charlemagne's revenge of Roland's death at Roncesvalles became deeply and firmly impressed into the minds of the French people. It does not appear to be a coincidence that the first extent version of this great chanson was written around 1095 during the launching of the First Crusade. From a political maneuver, it turns into a call for a holy war against the Muslims of Spain on account of their attack on Charlemagne's rear guard at Roncesvalles. The epic delineates and clearly and firmly sets down the meanings of good and evil throughout. It does so distinctively in the battlefield scenes where super-mortal forces clash for the control of the earth, using mortal bodies of Christians and pagans in a way of cosmological significance. While based on historical facts, the Song of Roland went through editing in the three centuries between the massacre and the writing of this epic. It is historically factual that the rear guard of Charlemagne's army was slaughtered at Roncesvalles, but it was the Basques and the Muslims that crushed Charlemagne's forces. Neither were the Franks waging a holy war against Spain."

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