ABSTRACT
In discussing the shorter romances, it has several times been necessary to stress their affinity with religious literature, especially with the Saints’ legends. This affinity shows itself in the moral and often didactic tone of these tales and in many story-motifs which are common to the romances and the legends. Most of the shorter romances centre round a hero who is not only an exemplary knight and warrior, but such a faithful servant of God that he becomes almost a Saint. Some of these heroes, like Degrevant and Perceval, even suffer martyrdom in the Holy Land. Nearly all the shorter romances, however, are basically love-stories; by his extraordinary deeds, the knight proves himself worthy of marrying the lady he has loved for so long. The poet does not only want to instruct, he wants to entertain as well.
