Jews Reading Arthurian Romances from the Middle Ages: On the Reception of Chrétien de Troyes's<i>Yvain, the Knight of the Lion</i>, based on Manuscript JTS Rab. 1164
Rella Kushelevsky
Evidence of Jewish readerships for French literature in the Middle Ages, particularly romances, has been accumulating. This article focuses on a recently discovered tale from Italy, copied Hebrew MS JTS Rab. 1164, as prism through which to explore cultural interactions between and Christian society Italy early Renaissance. I first analyze tale, posit an affinity with Arthurian romance Yvain, The Knight Lion by Chrétien de Troyes, expound thematic poetic links two stories. then examine Yvain ’s reception part broader phenomenon involving acceptance, copying, adaptation, assimilation romances into vernacular Italian. Finally, present story factors that played role its context Italian society. entirety review offers overall portrait story's unique socioliterary shared Jews non-Jews alike late Ages
Ajs Review-the Journal of The Association for Jewish Studies