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Study Questions
Who is the hero of this narrative? Why? Is Eliduc the only title of the story? Why? What does the multiplicity of titles suggest regarding the interpretation of the story and its characters?
Can Eliduc be considered a perfect heroic figure? Why or why not? Does he have faults? What are they? How about Guilliadun? How would you describe her character?
What do you think of Guildeluec's reactions and behavior after finding out about her husband's affair?
Does this love story deal with more than one kind of love? How can the different types of love be characterized? Which characters are associated with what types of love? Are some forms of love higher than others?
What are some possible meanings for the images of the weasels and the red flower?
Is it surprising that no one is punished and that in a sense they all get to live happily for ever after? What does this indicate regarding the possible meanings of the story and its treatment of the relations between men and women, as well as women and women?
Is there some possible symbolic meaning in the situations of the main characters joining monasteries and convents at the end of the story? What does the monastic life represent?
In what ways does the story embody elements of the ideologies and practices of courtly love? (It is recommended to do some additional reading into the definition of courtly love before answering this question).
How might this story relate to the relations between men and women in the courtly societies of the 12th century? Is there any possible connection to the conflicts between Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine? (It is recommended to do some reading into the history of Henry II's reign and his relations with his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, in order to answer these questions)
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