The Hero's Journey In Lanval By Marie De France

In “Lanval” by Marie de France, Lanval is a hero, though parts of his journey are sometimes hard to identify as herioc. Lanval’s story follows the basic elements of the monomyth, or Hero’s Journey, when read closely. He begins his journey in a vaguely unsatisfying ordinary world where he is unappreciated and where “he could see nothing that pleased him” (52). Leaving that world, he enters into the world of Queen Semiramis, wherein he is not only beloved of the Queen but assured that “he would never again want anything / he would receive as he desired” (135-36). When Lanval is challenged by his Lady “if this love were known / you would never see me again”, he accepts his quest readily (148-49). Thus has Lanval entered into an unknown world,

When he spurns her love, refusing to betray his King, the Lady goads him into breaking the one rule given to him by Queen Semiramis, lest he never see his beloved again. Lanval announces to Arthur’s Queen “any one of those who serve her / the poorest girl of all / is better than you, my lady queen,”(298-300). This upset the Lady who complained to King Arthur, claiming that Lanval dishonored her, and the king was angered and “he swore an oath / if Lanval could not defend himself in court / he would have him burned or hanged” (326-28). By standing by his boast as truth, and through the efforts of Queen Semiramis, Lanval overcame the Supreme Ordeal of the trial by his King and as a reward “He was set free by their decision” (629). From there Lanval left the court to await his Queen on a marble stone and “When the girl came through the gate / Lanval leapt, in one bound / onto the palfrey, behind her.” He left with Queen Semiramis, to live in her world. And so the story of Lanval follows the monomyth, or the Hero’s Journey, as well as illustrating beautifully the virtues of loyalty, generosity, and the triumph of