Thirteenth Century Oral Resonances: The Case of the Valenciennes Chronicle

This study will present a comparison of three early 13th century prose chronicles--among the first lengthy prose works in vernacular French to come down to us--the Fourth Crusade chronicles of Robert de Clari (Clari), Geoffroy de Villehardouin (Villehardouin), and Henri de Valenciennes (Valenciennes). As a tool for studying these texts from a componential perspective, I have used a framework for narrative analysis (hereafter termed the Labovian framework) that was first proposed by Labov and Waletzky (1967). In addition, this study will also look at certain stylistic features that occur outside of the structural components described in this framework. My particular interest in comparing these three chronicles relates to what has been said about the connection of these early prose works with the strong oral performative orientation so often remarked upon in earlier epic narrative. Only two of the three chronicles, those of Clari and Villehardouin, have actually been studied from this perspective, with a particular focus upon tense and aspect patterning. The contemporary Valenciennes chronicle has not been included in any such studies, and what I would like to show is that it provides evidence for a less radical departure from a narrative style closel