The manuscript context of medieval romance
Sylvia Huot
This essay examines aspects of the manuscript transmission Old French and Middle High German romance. Though space does not permit a comprehensive pan-European survey, comparative examination two literary traditions allows for broader consideration medieval in its varied forms. Anyone who has studied romances their original manuscripts knows that experience is markedly different from reading them modern printed editions. On one hand, there are no line numbers, glossary or index proper names, explanatory introduction critical apparatus; may be indication author’s name, possibly even title. Punctuation sparse, always consistent. other features enhance experience, such as illustrations - sometimes quite prolific rubrics chart narrative thematic subdivisions text. A scribe might embellish text with flourishes doodles call attention to key words, passages, motifs; scribes readers alike often marked lines they considered important marginal “Nota.” The shapes our encounter way edition; it bears personal reactions generations past readers, material reminder communal nature reception (Fig. 4.1).
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