Religious Conflicts in The Song of Roland - 1326 Words

The French epic, The Song of Roland, relates the conflicts between Christians and Muslims in 778 A.D. In it, Charlemagne and his men, weary in their seventh year of battle against pagan forces in Spain, have captured every heathen stronghold but the kingdom of Saragossa, held by the Muslim king Marsile. Terrified of the might of Charlemagne’s army, Marsile promises treasures, hostages and his conversion to Christianity if the Franks will go back to France. However, Marsile has no intention of surrendering and wants only for Charlemagne to end his siege of the city and get out of Spain. Charlemagne does not trust Marsile but nevertheless accepts the proposal despite his nephew, Roland’s, objections. Roland nominates his stepfather, Ganelon, as a messenger to go back to Marsile’s court. Ganelon initially protests but is forced to accept the dangerous commission. He fears that hell die in the hands of the bloodthirsty pagans and publicly vows that, â€Å"As long as I live, I shall have no love for [Roland]† (Song 39). Ganelon has long been jealous of Roland, and on his diplomatic mission he finds an opportunity for revenge. Ganelon advises Marsile that the only way to make Charlemagne leave Spain forever is to bring about Rolands death. Roland is Charlemagnes right hand in warfare; without Roland, the Frankish king would despair and could not hope to conquer Spain. In collusion with Marsile, Ganelon plots his revenge: he will see to it that Roland is given command of the rearShow MoreRelatedThe Song Of Roland And The Iliad933 Words   |  4 Pages The Song of Roland and The Iliad are both epics that represent the cultural viewpoints of medieval France, and Ancient Greece, respectively. The Song of Roland, based on historical fact, details the heroism of one of Charlemagne’s knights, Roland, when fighting against an overwhelming force of foreigners to defend the rear of Charlemagne’s army. In comparison, The Iliad accounts the triumphs of Achilles during the mythical Trojan Wars to win possession over the beauty of Helen. Despite similaritiesRead More Prejudice in The Song of Roland Essay1718 Words   |  7 PagesPrejudice in The Song of Roland Unfortunately, the role of ignorance and jealousy combining to breed fear and hatred is a recurring theme in history ultimately exhibiting itself in the form of prejudice. As demonstrated through the altering of historical events in The Song of Roland, the conflict between the Christian and Islamic religions takes precedence over the more narrow scope of any specific battle and is shaped, at least in part by the blind perception of a prejudice born of the ignoranceRead MoreElijah Hansen-Lints | | Hstam 112 | | 2.28.2017 | | Paper1897 Words   |  8 PagesElijah Hansen-Lints | | HSTAM 112 | | 2.28.2017 | | Paper 3 Prompt: Analyze and compare the depictions of Islam and Muslim society in the Song of Roland and the Life of Saint Louis It is important to note that Islam and Muslim society as a whole is depicted differently by different scholars. The depiction of the Muslim culture is mainly prejudicial and biased based on the faith and beliefs of the scholars. 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The Greek gods were expressions of the world’s uncontrolled forces. C. The Greeks blamed humanity for disorder in the universe. D. The Greeks credited humanity