Vote early and often

Does anyone want more Medieval introductions? Or are three posts entirely sufficient?

I haven't covered so much interesting (non epic) stuff, but I can leave it if exhaustion has set in at your end. Please speak up if you want more *or* don't want more, because interpreting silence is not one of my skills.

I might try to avoid Gilligan's Island next time. What happened there was I realised that the mock-ballad of the theme tune used some of the same opening techniques of the chanson de geste. How it did this was by copying a particular type of ballad opening - but they are both products of a listening (or sometimes listening/sometimes reading) audience, so calls for attention make entire sense.

I could do an entry on ballad openings (not medieval but fun) or on romances, or on chronicles, or on a few select saint's lives (Eulalia was - as the poem said - 'A Good Girl' and pretty to boot'), or on lyric poetry. Or on individual works. The Great and Good vs the Easily Forgotten; and whether the intros reflect that literary judgement.

Lots of possible topics or posts. Or I could go back to blowing bubbles in my loungeroom. Your call.

(no subject)

Now I have made myself curious about something. Does anyone have some Jane Yolen on their shelves? She uses so many traditional structures in so many interesting ways. What does she do with introductions?

I forgot a pile of chansons de gestes yesterday. There may not be anything interesting in the crusade cycle, but since I have them sitting there and reproaching me for neglect, I will talk about them anyway. The crusade cycle includes Mr Soup, who is always good value.