Le Jeu Des Noms De Personnes Dans Le Conte Du Graal

Author: Sargent-Baur B.N.

Source: Neophilologus, Volume 85, Number 4, October 2001 , pp. 485-499(15)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Scholars have not failed to comment upon the fact that Chrétien de Troyes treats with much care the names of his characters, both main and secondary. The poet himself invites us to reflect upon personal names and their etymologies, along with cognomens, aliases, recognitions, divulgations, and the loss and recovery of names, in his first four narratives. This is particularly true in his last romance, of which naming constitutes an element deserving closer study than it has received. Here Chrétien goes well beyond his handling of the matter in, e.g., Yvain and the Charrete; he repeatedly draws attention to the Welsh hero's name, first unknown, then "guessed" by him and deeply expressive of his actions and nature. Gauvain's name too, as revealed or concealed, forms an important psychological element. Beyond this, the romance gives prominence to names and cognomens in general, laying stress on the ways a character may make himself known, acknowledge the existence of others, and even come to self-knowledge.

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Department of French and Italian Languages and Literatures, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA

Publication date: 2001-10-01