This book is a study of the medieval epic poems known as chansons de geste. Written by Joseph Bédier and Frédéric, Comte de Janzé, this work offers insights into the cultural and historical context of this important literary genre. With detailed analysis of the themes and motifs of the chansons de geste, as well as the ways in which they were composed and transmitted, this book is an essential resource for scholars of medieval literature. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.