Jean Bodel (c. 1165 – c. 1210), was an Old French poet who wrote a number of chansons de geste as well as many fabliaux. He lived in Arras.[1]
Jean Bodel | |
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Born | c. 1165 |
Died | c. 1210 Arras |
Occupation | poet |
Nationality | French |
Period | Medieval |
Genre | chanson de geste, fabliaux |
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Bodel wrote Chanson des Saisnes [fr][1] ("Song of the Saxons") about the war of King Charlemagne with the Saxons and their leader Widukind, whom Bodel calls Guiteclin. He also wrote a miracle play called the Le Jeu de saint Nicolas ("The Game of Saint Nicolas"), which was probably first performed in Arras on 5 December 1200. Set in the middle of an epic battle between Christians and Muslims, the play tells the story of a good Christian who escapes the battle and is found praying to a statue of Saint Nicolas by the Muslim forces. The Muslim leader decides to test the saint by unlocking the doors to his treasury and leaving the statue as a guardian, stipulating that if anything were stolen the Christian would forfeit his life. Three thieves attempt to steal the treasure, but Saint Nicolas stops them. As a result, the Muslim ruler and his entire army convert to Christianity.[2]
Like another French miracle play from the same time period, Le Miracle de Théophile, Le Jeu de saint Nicolas contains an invocation to the Devil in an unknown language:[3]
Bodel was the first person of record to classify the legendary themes and literary cycles known to medieval literature into the "Three Matters":[citation needed]
Bodel contracted leprosy in 1202 or 1205,[1] and entered a leprosarium.[1] He then wrote a long farewell, "Les Congés",[1] his most personal and touching work.
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