Research Elisabeth de Bruijn

Abstract

This project aims to contribute to the mapping of the material transmission of medieval chivalric romances (c. 1100-1450) in various European language areas in order to gain more insight into their reception. The project builds on previous research on the transmission and reception of medieval chivalric romances, in particular the article 'Forgotten Books: The Application of Unseen Species Mode Is to the Survival of Culture' (Kestemont et al. 2022), on which the applicant collaborated and which was published in the multidisciplinary journal Science. This study showed that there are substantial differences in the transmission of chivalric literature in various language areas in northwestern Europe: e.g. German, lcelandic and Irish are better preserved than Dutch, English and French. This discrepancy can partly be explained from a different engagement with chivalric literature in medieval Europe. For a correct picture of the medieval reception of this literature it is important: • to understand the material transmission of chivalric romances: unlike contemporary books or modern editions of medieval texts, each medieval manuscript is unique. The ever unique manuscript context is therefore an important window into the reception of chivalric tales. • to conduct large-scale research: while literary research usually focuses on the reception of a particular medieval work, this project aims at a comprehensive inventory of chivalric romances. By mapping the complete transmission of this literature in various languages, patterns (similarities and differences between languages) come to light more easily.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: de Bruijn Elisabeth

Research team(s)

• Institute for the Study of Literature in the Low Countries (ISLN)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The advent of print facilitated the dissemination of medieval romances and enabled the development of a transnational canon in Western Europe. The study of these narratives as a group transcends the limits of national philologies. It advances our understanding of the international success and regional diversity of this subject matter.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Meeus Hubert
• Co-promoter: Willaert Frank
• Fellow: de Bruijn Elisabeth

Research team(s)

• Institute for the Study of Literature in the Low Countries (ISLN)

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The aim of this reception research is to find out in what ways the textual composition of the five manuscripts containing the Middle Low German Flos unde Blankeflos influences the reception of this text and how the codices correspond and differ in this. First the tradition history of the work is regarded. Finally both text and codex are discussed with regard to the Middle Low German literature and the European Floire et Blanchefleur tradition.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Willaert Frank
• Fellow: de Bruijn Elisabeth

Research team(s)

• Institute for the Study of Literature in the Low Countries (ISLN)

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

The aim of this reception research is to find out in what ways the textual composition of the five manuscripts containing the Middle Low German Flos unde Blankeflos influences the reception of this text and how the codices correspond and differ in this. First the tradition history of the work is regarded. Finally both text and codex are discussed with regard to the Middle Low German literature and the European Floire et Blanchefleur tradition.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Willaert Frank
• Fellow: de Bruijn Elisabeth

Research team(s)

• Institute for the Study of Literature in the Low Countries (ISLN)

Project type(s)

• Research Project