Sir Launfal

by Thomas Chestre, A.J. Bliss (Editor)

Sir Launfal is a 1045-line Middle English romance or Breton lay written by Thomas Chestre dating from the late-14th century. It is based primarily on the 538-line Middle English poem Sir Landevale, which in turn was based on Marie de France's lai Lanval, written in a form of French understood in the courts of both England and France in the 12th century. Sir Launfal retains the basic story told by Marie de France and retold in Sir Landevale, augmented with material from an Old French lai Graelent and a lost romance that possibly featured a giant named Sir Valentyne. This is in line with Thomas Chestre's eclectic way of creating his poetry.
In the tale, Sir Launfal is propelled from wealth and status – the steward at King Arthur's court – to being a pauper and a social outcast. He is not even invited to a feast in his home town of Caerleon in South Wales when the king visits, although Arthur knows nothing of this. Out in the forest alone, he meets with two damsels who take him to their mistress, the daughter of the King of Faerie. She gives him untold wealth and a magic bag in which money can always be found, on the condition that he becomes her lover. She will visit him whenever he wants and nobody will see her or hear her. But he must tell nobody about her, or her love will vanish at that instant.
The story of a powerful (fairy) woman who takes a lover on condition that he obey a particular prohibition is common in medieval poetry: the French lais of Desiré, Graelant, and Guingamor, and Chrétien de Troyes's romance Yvain, the Knight of the Lion, all share similar plot elements. The presence of a Land of Faerie, or an Otherworld, betrays the story's Celtic roots. A final court scene may be intended by Chestre as criticism of the contemporary legal and judicial framework in late-fourteenth century England.[4] The equation of money with worth in the tale may satirize a late-fourteenth century bourgeois mentality.

Genres: Poetry, Medieval, Classics, Arthurian, Fantasy, School, Mythology

153 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1390

About the author

Fourteenth-century English author.

Reviews

[Gabi Kaczmarek · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s probably not that it’s bad. I’m just too thick to understand it 😭

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the few Arthurian stories where Queen Gwenny is a shrew. In addition there are tons of Pagan symbolism and the fae aren't portrayed as the bad guys. Although it is interesting that in this story Gwenevere is the princess of Ireland. This story is also like a medieval version of from rags to riches. One of my favourites so far that I have read.

[Tereza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sir Launfal my favorite damsel in distress

[Jaslyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pulling up daisies and grass by the handfuls in this vale of tears. At this rate I'm going to emerge from this semester weeping, wailing, and coughing up blood. Why is there so much to read and why don't I have the energy to read all the things

[Avis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lmao. "I'm not gay! I have a gf she just goes to another school!"

[flora · Rating 3 out of 5]

marie outsold

[tamz · Rating 1 out of 5]

wtf

[Falyn Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Translated and read for class and I liked it more than I originally thought I would. Pretty good for a in class read.

[lily 🪴]

they let people write anything back then

[Imo melrose · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thomas Chestre Hates women

[mar ⭐️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

marie carried

[Michael Vawser]

Biblio.com US$35.87

[Phia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally I have preferred to read the version by Marie de France. That said, there are interesting distinguishments to be made, such as references to Catholicism in the few ending lines of the lay.

[eleanor grey ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5☆

‘Thus Launfal, truly, that noble knight of the Round Table, was taken into the land of the fairies.’

ˋ°•*⁀➷
my review:

It certainly was a task translating this from Middle English into a modern legible translation, but aspects of Middle English are definitely interesting. I’m curious to learn how Marie de France’s tale of Lanval was developed into this longer narrative.

✧･ﾟ: * ✧･ﾟ: * ✧･ﾟ: * ✧･ﾟ: *

[David Mosley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting late medieval Arthurian Romance, Launfal is a knight of the Round Table who falls in love with faerie he meets in the wood. She is Triamour, daughter of Oberon, King of the Faeries. She loves and promises to come to him every night should he think of her. One rule on Launfal is placed, never to boast about her. You must read this poem for yourself to see how well Launfal keeps this rule, especially when goaded by Queen Guinevere.

There is some interesting ambiguity in morality in this tale, not unlike what you might find in Thomas Malory. Nevertheless, I very much enjoy this Faerie Romance, as it gives us insight not only to the late Middle Ages, but to the beauty and perilous nature of Faerie as well.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

why does everyone hate guinevere though ???