Marie de France as a Naturalist Summary

The author of this journal argues that Marie de France was a pseudo-naturalist as seen throughout her
works. Making references to Maries use of animals within her fables and lais, the author detects that
while Marie uses a more naturalist approach in her stories, it is merely for scene rather than
observation. As stated by Mickel in reference to Maries Ysopet, There is little evidence to indicate that
the author carefully chose the actions based on their mimetic or symbolic appropriateness to the actors.
Rather, the actions of personified inanimate objects, animals, and people are all appropriate to the
situation and general truth (Harrison 252).

In fact, while majority of her fables consist only of animals, they are mainly used for their whimsical and
attractive features as opposed to their more stereotypical features. In the Yonec, the hawk and the
werewolf is barely described physically. There are no attentions to detail, no specifics in their physical
attributes, and no basic backgrounds of the character. Its almost a belief to say that Marie de France
wanted the readers of her fables to conduct a theory or a scene of their own through her words.

Another interesting characteristic to note is the purpose of the animals used in the fables. As seen
through the white hind, the weasels, and the nightingale, they are all portrayed as messengers in the
Ysopet. In fact, Harrison (pg. 249) notes that, The white hind and the weasels are messengers of a
different order because they do not merely convey, they enlighten or instruct. And while man reigns
superior over animals and nature, Marie shows that man is still able to learn and be informed from
these beings. In fact, the messages that the animals convey to man not only advance the plot, but
connect to the greater truth by the end of the fable.

In conclusion, the author states that while Marie de France makes numerous references to plants,
animals, and the interaction between nature and man, she is merely a pseudo-naturalist as opposed to a
true naturalist. One reason being that Marie de France does not let nature command her entire work.
Rather than let nature grab her attention wholeheartedly, she uses nature and animals to paint a
particular scene or situation to capture the readers attention to her underlying truth.

Reference

Harrison, A. (1980). MARIE DE FRANCE AS NATURALIST. Romance Notes, 21(2), 248-253. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/43801705