Philippine Science High School System English 4 PDF

Subject Code: English 4 Module Code: 2.0 The Song of Roland Lesson Code: 2.1 Introduction Allotted Time: 30 minutes TARGET TA: 0.5 min AT...

Subject Code: English 4 Module Code: 2.0 The Song of Roland Lesson Code: 2.1 Introduction Allotted Time: 30 minutes TARGET TA: 0.5 min ATA: _____ By the end of the learning guide, students should be able to: 1. Identify details from the background information of “The Song of Roland,” and 2. Describe literary characters. HOOK TA: 1 min ATA: _____ Look at the illustration on the right. What crime can you think of that would warrant this kind punishment? Retrieved from: https://nobility.org/wpcontent/uploads/2011/09/Ganelon.jpg IGNITE TA: 15 mins ATA: _____ Historical Basis “La Chanson de Roland” or “The Song of Roland” is one of most notable examples of “chanson de geste” or song of deeds. A song of deeds revolves around the reign of the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne and contains historical truths. However, the context of these facts are usually embellished. The events in “The Song of Roland” are based on the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in 778 AD. Charlemagne and his troops were in Spain to intervene in a conflict between two Muslim rulers when they were called back to France to address an uprising there. On his way back to his country, English 4 page 1 of 5 © 2020 Philippine Science High School System. All rights reserved. This document may contain proprietary information and may on ly be released to third parties with approval of management. Document is uncontrolled unless otherwise marked; uncontrolled documents are not subject to update notification. Charlemagne laid to waste several towns that they passed through. The rear guard of their army, led by Charlemagne’s nephew Roland, the seneschal Eggihard, and count palatine Anselm, was ambushed and killed by a group of Christian Basques who suffered from Charlemagne’s harsh treatment of the townspeople. In the literary depiction of the battle, some of the facts were changed. For example, it was no longer the Christian Basques who ambushed the rear guard but the Saracens or Muslims. Instead of Eggihard and Anselm, Roland was accompanied by Oliver and Archbishop Turpin. We can see here a depiction of the Battle of Roncevaux Pass: Retrieved from: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/1-battle-of-roncevaux-pass-778-knight- everett.html The specific date when “The Song of Roland” was written is unknown even to this day. There are a number of existing manuscripts and fragments of the epic, but the oldest existing manuscript written in Old French is dated between 1129 and 1165 AD and is being kept at the Oxford University. The author of the epic is also unknown. According to Prentice Hall (1991, p. 566), the ending of the epic states: “Ci falt la geste que Turol-dus declinet” (“Thus concludes the deeds of which Turold _____”). Translating this ending is a bit problematic since the term “declinet” could mean different things – “translate,” “compose,” or “recite.” We know that this person Turold is connected to the epic, but we do not know how he is connected to it. Here is a page of the copy of the epic at the Oxford University: English 4 page 2 of 5 © 2020 Philippine Science High School System. All rights reserved. This document may contain proprietary information and may on ly be released to third parties with approval of management. Document is uncontrolled unless otherwise marked; uncontrolled documents are not subject to update notification. Retrieved from: https://treasures.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/treasures/chanson-de-roland/ Structure “The Song of Roland” is considered as an epic and is structured for oral performance. The length of the stanzas are not equal and the lines do not rhyme. Instead, the epic uses assonance where every stanza would have a different assonance. These features allow the “jongleur” or folk song singer to put his own twist to the epic and signals the audience that there is a change of stanza. Synopsis Terrified of King Charlemagne, the Muslim King Marsilion of Saragossa, sends a messenger offering riches and the Muslim king’s conversion to Christianity if the Franks would go back to their home country. King Charlemagne agrees to this and looks for a messenger who will relay their decision to Marsilion. Roland nominates his stepfather Ganelon. This enrages Ganelon because he is scared that he will die at the hands of the Muslims. He also suspects that Roland wants him dead. On their way to Saragossa, Ganelon exacts his revenge against Roland by telling the Muslims a way to ambush the rear guard of King Charlemagne’s army. Just as Ganelon predicted, Roland is the one leading the rear guard. The Muslims attack them and, seeing that they are outnumbered, Oliver urges Roland to blow his olifant (oliphant in other translations) so that the other Franks can come to their aid. Roland refuses to do so because he believes that they can defeat the Muslims. However, the Muslims prove to be too much for the Christian soldiers and, despite knowing that it is too late for them to be saved, Roland finally blows the horn so that King Charlemagne would see what happened to his soldiers and avenge their deaths. English 4 page 3 of 5 © 2020 Philippine Science High School System. All rights reserved. This document may contain proprietary information and may on ly be released to third parties with approval of management. Document is uncontrolled unless otherwise marked; uncontrolled documents are not subject to update notification.  King Charlemagne and his soldiers defeated the Muslims, along with their last ally, the Babylonians. They also realized the betrayal of Ganelon and, after his and Roland’s defender engaged in a trial by combat, is sentenced to die by being torn limb from limb. NAVIGATE TA: 13 mins ATA: _____ Modified True or False. Identify whether the statement in each item is true or false. Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if the statement is incorrect. For every FALSE statement, provide the correct detail on the space below the item. Each correct answer is equivalent to 1 point. __________ 1. “The Song of Roland” is an example of a ballad. Correct detail: ____________________________________ __________ 2. The English translation of the term “chanson” is “song.” Correct detail: ____________________________________ __________ 3. The Battle of Roncevaux Pass happened in 778 A.D. Correct detail: ____________________________________ __________ 4. According to history, it was the Saracens who attacked the rear guard of King Charlemagne’s army. Correct detail: ____________________________________ __________ 5. The stepfather of Roland is Ganelon. Correct detail: ____________________________________ __________ 6. The oldest existing manuscript of “The Song of Roland” is under the care of the Cambridge University. Correct detail: ____________________________________ __________ 7. Instead of rhyming lines, “The Song of Roland” employs assonance. Correct detail: ____________________________________ __________ 8. Aside from being his uncle, King Charlemagne is also the lord of Roland. Correct detail: ____________________________________ __________ 9. In “The Song of Roland,” Roland is accompanied by Eggihard and Turpin. Correct detail: ____________________________________ __________ 10. In “The Song of Roland,” the king of Valeria is King Marsilion. Correct detail: ___________________________________ English 4 page 4 of 5 © 2020 Philippine Science High School System. All rights reserved. This document may contain proprietary information and may on ly be released to third parties with approval of management. Document is uncontrolled unless otherwise marked; uncontrolled documents are not subject to update notification. Analysis. Which main flaw of Roland led to the defeat of the rear guard and, ultimately, to his death? (1 point) Roland’s flaw is ________________________________. KNOT TA: 0.5 min ATA: _____ Summary “La Chanson de Roland,” considered as one of the earliest and best examples of “chanson de geste,” revolves around the story of how King Charlemagne’s army led by Roland was betrayed by Ganelon and how he was punished for his traitorous act. Though popular, the author and exact date when “The Song of Roland” was written are unknown. Furthermore, in order to fit the need of folk song singers who perform the literary piece, the length of its stanzas are unequal and it uses assonance instead of rhyming lines. Reference Prentice Hall. (1991). The Middle Ages. In Literature World Masterpieces Fourth Edition. Prentice Hall. English 4 page 5 of 5 © 2020 Philippine Science High School System. All rights reserved. This document may contain proprietary information and may on ly be released to third parties with approval of management. Document is uncontrolled unless otherwise marked; uncontrolled documents are not subject to update notification.