This master's thesis compares the epic works of two great poets, Publius Vergilius Maro and Pierre de Ronsard, while examining the influence of ancient poets - particularly Virgil - on the French Renaissance.
The introductory part of the thesis investigates the impact of Latin and Ancient Greek languages and literatures on the French Renaissance. The French language, striving to assert itself among the Romance languages and alongside Latin - which still remained the dominant language of the educated elite - borrows expressions and vocabulary from Latin to enrich itself and to stand alongside other developed languages. Just as the French language is enhanced by Latin, French literature draws inspiration from both Latin and Ancient Greek works, to compete with the literary achievements of other European nations, particularly Italy, where the Renaissance had emerged a century earlier.
The thesis then examines the influence of Virgil and Homer on the French Renaissance. Virgil, an important model in the Middle Ages, remained one of the most influential Latin authors during the Renaissance. In contrast, Homer, who was largely unknown throughout the Middle Ages, began to gain influence among the educated elite, particularly those familiar with Ancient Greek. Homer thus became an important source for French Renaissance authors seeking to shift slightly away from Latin, as Italian Renaissance writers— their rivals—prided themselves on Latin having originated in Italy.
Subsequently, the thesis highlights Ronsard's knowledge of Latin and Ancient Greek and his imitation of Latin and Greek works across different poetic genres, from odes and collections of love poetry to hymns and other works. Particular attention is given to Ronsard's imitation of Virgil and Homer. Although Ronsard borrowed extensively from both poets, he was especially fond of Virgil, whose works he had been reading since a very young age.
At the heart of the thesis lies a direct comparison between the Aeneid and the Franciade. Based on a detailed analysis of all four books of the epic, the study presents examples of direct imitation of the Aeneid. Traces of Virgil’s Aeneid can be found in every book; in several instances, Ronsard even directly translates and adapts specific passages. The thesis subsequently analyzes specific elements of both epics—namely themes, characters, motifs, and the imitation of other Latin and Ancient Greek authors—and draws parallels between the two works. It also explores the broader background of both epics, from the Trojan origins of nations and the objective of each work to the patronage of the upper class and the reception of both texts during the Renaissance and in later periods. The central theme of the thesis is the connection between the Renaissance search for cultural and national roots and a conscious literary competition with the Latin model.
The concluding part of the thesis analyzes the significance of the Franciade as an unsuccessful literary attempt to create a French national epic that could stand alongside Virgil’s Aeneid. Ronsard's work in not only a literary competition with the Latin and Greek poets, but also an atempt to establish French literature within the broader European literary canon.The thesis contributes to the understanding of the Renaissance attitude toward antiquity and raises questions about how literary models shaped the cultural identity of nations and influenced the development of European literary tradition.
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