Convention and Conversion: The Saracen Ending of the Taill of Rauf Coilzear
Glenn Wright
Uniquely among representatives of the "king-and-commoner" plot type (a king takes refuge with a humble fellow, who is then summoned to court for reward), fifteenth-century Taill Rauf Coilzear adjoins lengthy encounter between newly knighted "hero" and Saracen opponent. The narrative logic this continuation has resisted explanation. I argue that inclusion ending other material derived from popular romance motivated by poet's desire represent Rauf's entry into nobility not as idle fantasy or mere absorption, but an ideal synthesis consistent his pre-existing code personal, class, honour. In assertive, temperamental otherness resembles stock figure champion. poet builds on analogy (notably in scene opposing martial-elitist Roland), so eventual conversion - presented conventionally matter requiring no ideological reconstruction supplies model own decidedly unconventional transition commoner aristocrat.
Al-Masaq: Journal of the Medieval Mediterranean