The Song of Roland
From The Song of Roland Page 608
Laisse 110 ll. 1-26
Directions: Read your assigned laisse and give the following information:
Character involved: Oliver (Roland’s’ companion), Roland, Archbishop, and Twelve Peers (noblemen – leaders).
Summary of laisse: Fierce battle ensure between the French and Saracens (pagans). The French are winning – killing Saracens by the 100s and then 1000s. A great storm rolls in at noon. The narrator tells the reader those battling believe the last day has come. Judgment Day. The death of Roland is foretold. FYI—Saracens are Muslims. In those days, pagan or heathen meant non-Christian ONLY.
Answer the skill questions (hint: be sure to give an abbreviated version of the questions): What might the storm imagery foreshadow? The imagery may foreshadow turbulent events that will disrupt Roland’s life.
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From The Song of Roland Page 610
Laisse 130 ll. 27-35
Directions: Read your assigned laisse and give the following information:
Characters involved: Roland and Oliver (Charles, meaning Charlemagne) is mentioned.
Summary of laisse: Roland and Oliver realize how dire their situation is - - they’re losing. Roland offers to call Charlemagne for back up. Oliver tells him he should have listened to his advice to call for backup earlier. Now, calling for help would just be disgraceful because all hope is lost.
Answer the skill questions (hint: be sure to give an abbreviated version of the questions): To what relationship is Oliver referring when he uses the word vassal? Oliver is referring to Roland’s relationship with Charlemagne; Charlemagne is King, and Roland had pledged to serve him loyally.
“Now by this beard of mine” is an idiom used throughout the epic to indicate a strong point being made (or anger).
From The Song of Roland page 610
Laisse 131 ll. 36-50
Directions: Read your assigned laisse and give the following information:
Characters involved: Roland, Oliver .
Summary of laisse: Roland wonders why Oliver is so angry. Oliver believes good judgment and restraint to be good virtues of a vassal- not recklessness and impulsiveness, as Roland is demonstrating. Oliver also calls out Roland for not taking his advice sooner to call in reinforcements. Oliver claims Roland will be judged for his behavior and both will die this day.
Answer the skill questions (hint: be sure to give an abbreviated version of the questions): ll. 36-40 What virtues does Oliver value in a vassal?
Good judgment and restraint
What faults does he find in Roland’s behavior? Recklessness and impulsiveness
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From The Song of Roland – Pages 610-1
Laisse 132 ll. 51-66 and 133 ll. 67-74
Directions: Read your assigned laisse and give the following information:
Characters involved: 132 – Turpin the Archbishop, Roland, Oliver
133 – King Charles (Charlemagne), Ganelon
Summary of laisse:132 - The Archbishop hears Roland and Oliver arguing and asks them not to fight. He agrees with Oliver’s point that calling for Charlemagne is futile, but he believes it is better to call the King to avenge them. The Archbishop continues to say the French will find he and his men dead, but will bury them instead of leaving their bodies for the animals. 133 - Roland agrees and puts the horn (olifant—see picture on pg. 610) to his mouth and calls to Charles and his men. The King recognizes Roland’s need and Ganelon tries to detract him.
Answer the skill questions (hint: be sure to give an abbreviated version of the questions):ll. 73-4 Ganelon doesn’t want the king to believe that Roland is in battle and needs help. If anyone else had spoken those same lines, what would Ganelon have told them? Ganelon doesn’t want the king to believe Roland is in battle and needs help. Ganelon tries to mislead the king by saying since he respects the king, he won’t contradict him and what he thinks about Roland’s situation, but if anyone else had said it, Ganelon would call them a liar.
From The Song of Roland – Pages 611-2
Laisse 134 ll. 75-98
Directions: Read your assigned laisse and give the following information:
Characters involved: Roland, King Charles (Charlemagne), Naimon, Ganelon
Summary of laisse: Roland sounds the olifant and breaks a blood vessel – blood now pours out of his mouth and his temple bursts. King Charles and all Frenchmen hear the call. King Charles recognizes Roland’s need. Ganelon tries to convince Charlemagne he need not go- he’s old and naïve. Ganelon says Roland is proud and capable – he doesn’t need their help. Ride to France.
Answer the skill questions (hint: be sure to give an abbreviated version of the questions): ll. 75-78 What happens to Roland in this passage? As a result of the effect required to blow his horn, Roland bursts a blood vessel.
ll. 88-96 Why does Ganelon exaggerate Roland’s behavior? By making Roland seem proud and power – hungry, Ganelon hopes to dissuade the king form turning back to help him.
l. 98 What does “Land of Father’s refer to? France – the homeland
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From The Song of Roland Page 612
Laisse 168
Directions: Read your assigned laisse and give the following information:
Character involved: Roland
Summary of laisse: Roland realizes he is dying and prays to God for his comrades and to Gabriel for himself. He carried the olifant his sword Durendal (said to be the Trojan prince Hector’s) and walked toward Spain. He climbed a hill and fainted between two trees and four big blocks of marble. He is near death.
Answer the skill questions (hint: be sure to give an abbreviated version of the questions): What does Roland do as he prepares for death? He prays for his fellow soldiers and for himself. He gathers up his horn and sword and walks in the direction of Spain. He climbs a hill and faints on the grass.
From The Song of RolandPage 613
Laisse169 ll. 111-123
Directions: Read your assigned laisse and give the following information:
Characters involved: Roland, a Saracen
Summary of laisse: A Saracen watches Roland faint on a hill. The Saracen has faked death by lying among the dead and smearing his body with blood. He runs to Roland, grabbing Roland’s arms and shoulders. He yells out that Charles’ nephew is conquered and swears he will take Roland’s sword to Arabia as a trophy and proof. As he takes the sword, Roland comes to.
Answer the skill questions (hint: be sure to give an abbreviated version of the questions): l. 122 Why might the Saracen want to “carry this sword back to Arabia”? He wants to have proof that Roland is dead; the sword would be a trophy for him.
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From The Song of Roland Page 613
Laisse 170 ll. 124-136
Directions: Read your assigned laisse and give the following information:
Characters involved: Roland, Saracen
Summary of laisse: Roland feels someone taking his sward, opens his eyes, and identifies the man as a Saracen. Roland grabs the jeweled olifant and cracks the man over the head. In the process, the olifant breaks and so does the man’s head, sending his eyes flying. Roland then throws the body aside and yells at the corpse for believing himself worthy of attacking him. He is angered the olifant is broken.
Answer the skill questions (hint: be sure to give an abbreviated version of the questions): What do Roland’s words to the Saracen reveal about Roland’s Character? Roland is very proud and considers himself noble; he is brave and will defend his honor, even in the face of death.
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From The Song of Roland Page 613-14
Laisse 171 ll. 137-151
Directions: Read your assigned laisse and give the following information:
Characters involved: Roland and his sword
Summary of laisse: Roland can’t see, gets to his feet, uses his last strength; his face loses color. He strikes a rock ten times (in rage and bitterness) with his sword. It doesn’t break. He asks for the Virgin Mary’s help. He is worried it will end up in another’s hands and recalls the many lands he has conquered with the sword. He states there will never be another like him.
Answer the skill questions (hint: be sure to give an abbreviated version of the questions): ll. 140-2 Why does Roland strike ten blows on a rock? Roland knows he will die soon and wants to break Durendal rather than surrender it to an enemy.
ll. 1458-151 Do you think modesty was valued in France in the Middle Ages? Explain your answer. Since epics reflect the values of a society, modesty was probably not highly valued; otherwise Roland, the hero, would exhibit some degree of modesty. He appears to be rather enamored with himself.
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From The Song of Roland Page 614-5
Laisse 173 ll. 152-168
Directions: Read your assigned laisse and give the following information:
Character involved: Roland
Summary of laisse: Roland strikes a rock in order to break Durendal (other than surrender it). The rock breaks instead. He believes his sword is a holy relic and laments it’s passing to a pagan, or unworthy, man. He recognizes the sword helped him conquer for France in the crusades.
Answer the skill questions (hint: be sure to give an abbreviated version of the questions): Describe the three Saints mentioned in this section.
Saint Peter: one of Jesus’ disciples who was pope of the Catholic Church
Saint Basile: 4th century religious writer and monastery administrator; fought for orthodoxy within the Catholic Church.
Saint Denis: 3rd century apostle to the Gauls who was martyred; patron saint of France.
From The Song of Roland Pages 615
Laisse 174 ll. 169-179
Directions: Read your assigned laisse and give the following information:
Character involved: Roland
Summary of laisse: Roland feels death coming now from his head to heart. He ran under a pine tree and laid out, face down, on grass, laying his sword and olifant underneath. He turned his head toward the Saracens. He did this so Charlemagne would believe Roland died a conqueror. He confesses (his sins) and offers his glove (for sins) to God.
Answer the skill questions (hint: be sure to give an abbreviated version of the questions): What might the offering of the glove symbolize? By offering his glove, Roland is surrendering his soul to God.
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From The Song of Roland Page 615
Laisse 176 ll. 180-201
Directions: Read your assigned laisse and give the following information
Character involved: Roland
Summary of laisse: Roland lay beneath a pine, looked to Spain and remembered all of the battles he won. He remembered France, his men, Charlemagne. He confesses sins and prays to God for mercy. Saint Gabriel took his glove, Roland died and Cherubim, St. Michael, and St. Gabriel took Roland’s soul to Paradise.
Answer the skill questions (hint: be sure to give an abbreviated version of the questions): How does the death of Roland differ from the death of the heroes of the classic epics, such as Hector and Achilles? Roland begs God’s forgiveness for his sins. He seems to bear more personal responsibility for his end that the classical heroes do. They seem to be merely living out their destiny.
Why might this passage be considered the climax of this selection? These two stanzas have great emotional intensity. They describe now, after the defeat of his men, Roland finally succumbs to his wounds.