Which Emotions during the Experience of Muslim Otherness in Fictional Narrative Discourses? A Sketch of Analysis based on Burgundian Romances (15th Century)

Sghaïer, Nissaf [USL-B]

While the travel’ tale is an own literary genre, the viatical experience is also narrated in fictional discourses, such as romances. More precisely, several novels preserved in the noble libraries of the Burgundian Netherlands in the 15th century feature characters setting out for the Near East, often with a chivalric aim. These adventures are an opportunity for the narrator to offer a certain representation of the Muslim world, a representation likely to meet the expectations of a reader steeped in courtly and chivalric culture. This literary tradition also echoes the political ambitions of the Burgundian dukes, in particular, Philip the Good, who tried to launch a new crusade against the expansion of Ottoman power. The paper considers, based on a selection of romances preserved at the Burgundian court (Le chevalier au Cygne, Saladin, Gillion de Trazegnies, Jehan de Saintré, La Belle Hélène de Constantinople ...), to distinguish the emotions appearing during the travel’ experience in the Muslim space as described in the romances: curiosity, animosity, exaltation of bravery, absence of emotion etc. The role of these emotions and experiences in the narrative will be also questioned. In addition, a comparative dimension with the travel’ tales in the East, as those presented by Nathalie Franckaert in the same session, will highlight the specificities and commonalities between these two types of viatic discourse regarding the emotions of experiencing the Muslim Otherness.