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UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
GRADUATE COLLEGE
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE THREE FRENCH VERSIONS
IN VERSE OF THE STORY OF BARLAAM ET JOSAPHAZ
A Dissertation
SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
By
Edward G. Ouellette
Norman, OK
2001
UMI Number: 3013152
UMI
UMI Microform 3013152
Copyright 2001 by Beil & Howell Information and Learning Company.
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Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company
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Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE THREE FRENCH VERSIONS
IN VERSE OF THE STORY OF BARLAAM ET JOSAPHAZ
A Dissertation APPROVED FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF MODERN LANGUAGES
Literatures and Linguistics
BY
FLvvJZc G,
Edward G. Ouellette 2001
Acknowledgeinents
I would like to thank the members of my committee. Dr. Busby, Dr. Genova,
Dr. Huseman, Dr. Ransom and Dr. Sullivan. Their suggestions/comments/critiques
have helped make this a better work than it otherwise would have been.
I would also like to thank my fellow medievalists. Dr. Logan Whalen and
Doug Canfield, whose friendship and advice have helped to make my stay at the
University of Oklahoma a pleasant one, and who, along with Joel Swofford, helped
me through my general exams.
I have a special thanks to all the French teaching assistants who have helped
and encouraged me over the years. While too numerous to mention, each one has left
his or her mark in my life.
I would like to thank my parents, Jim and Jane Patterson, who encouraged me
to do what 1 really love.
My grandmother, Lillian Ouellette deserves a very special mention. I
originally began my French studies in order to write letters to her in French, never
dreaming the extent to which this decision would affect my life.
To my wife, Fheth, go my deepest thanks. Her love and support gave me the
strength to see this through to completion.
And to the Lord, through whom all things are possible.
IV
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements iv
Table of Contents v
Abstract vi
Chapter One
A Question of Genre 1
Chapter Two
The Redactors 25
Chapter Three
The Texts 41
Chapter Four
The Parables 65
Chapter Five
The Additions and Ampiificaiions in the version
of Gui de Cambrai 98
Chapter Six
Conclusion 125
Appendices
A. The Story of Barlaam et Josaphaz 128
B. The Voyage of Barlaam et Josaphaz to the
Western World 131
C. Timeline 135
D. Introduction of Gui de Cambrai 136
Bibliography 140
Abstract
Barlaam et Josaphaz is a saint’s life that enjoyed much popularity in the
middle ages. Accepted as a Christianized retelling of the Buddha story, it was
translated from Greek (originally accepted as being written by John Damascene, the
consensus now is that it was composed by Euthymius. See Wolf; “Barlaam and
losaph,” Harvard Theological Review XXXII, 1939.) into Latin and thence into most
of the languages of Western Europe (see Pfiaum: Per Relgionsdisput der Barlaam-
Legende. ein Motiv Abendlandischer Dichtung pp. 224-52 for a complete listing).
This Latin source served as the basis for three metrical versions in Old French,
written by an anonymous translator, Gui de Cambrai and an Anglo-Norman called
Chardri. Written at roughly the same time, between 1180 and 1225 CE, there is no
indication that these authors knew each other’s work. The Version Anonyme and that
of Gui de Cambrai come from the continent, while that of Chardri is from England.
Significantly, while all three used the same Latin vita as their source, they each
created a unique version of the story. My dissertation studies each verse version in
relation to the source vita, the other verse versions, salient themes, and their
language/vocabulary in an attempt to ascertain whether the story truly falls under
Hagiography, or should be more properly considered a Romance or Epic Romance.
Chapter I: “A Question of Genre.” In this chapter I explore the definition of
genre and how modem scholars apply it to medieval literary works. Additionally, I
introduce my contention that the story of Barlaam et Josaphaz can be classified under
more than one genre.
VI
Chapter 2: ‘The Redactors.” In this chapter I examine each of the three
redactors who translated this story into the vernacular, their choice of style, and their
possible motivations for doing so.
Chapter 3: ‘The Texts.” This chapter focuses on the texts themselves and on
which genre each could, or should, be classified under.
Chapter 4: ‘The Parables.” The parables are an important aspect of the story
of Barlaam et Josaphaz, and many enjoyed a popularity outside the story of these two
saints. In this chapter I examine Chardri’s decision to leave them out of his version,
and their treatment at both the hands of Gui de Cambrai and the anonymous author.
Chapter 5: “The Additions and Amplifications in the version of Gui de
Cambrai.” Of the three versions of Barlaam et Josaphaz in verse, that of Gui de
Cambrai deserves especial consideration, in that it takes the most liberties with its
source material and was selected by a later scribe as a vehicle for attacking the very
class of people, the aristocracy, for whom it was commissioned. In this chapter I
examine these liberties, showing how they confirm that Gui was indeed writing for a
courtly audience.
Chapter 6: “Conclusion.” In this chapter I review my findings and show how
they confirm my original hypothesis that the story of Barlaam et Josaphaz can be
classified under more than one genre.
VII
