| This dissertation is a study in physical and spiritual transformation in medieval French and Occitan literature from the eleventh through the fifteenth centuries. By considering the Ovidian and biblical tropes of metamorphosis and transfiguration that are present in medieval French and Occitan literature, particularly in works such as Robert le diable, Flamenca, La Vie de Sainte Marie l'Egyptienne, the various Tristan narratives, and the works of Chretien de Troyes, one can have a clearer understanding of the influence that both Ovidian and biblical narratives had on medieval French and Occitan literature. By examining Ovidian metamorphic trope of metamorphic degradation and exploring the instances in which this trope appears in medieval French and Occitan literature, one can arrive at a greater appreciation for the influence that Ovid and his works exercised on medieval authors and readers. It is also possible to foster a greater appreciation for transformation by examining instances of disguise, costuming, and clothing presented in medieval French and Occitan literature it is possible to further explore the tropes of transformation as one gains a clearer appreciation for the role that clothing and disguise play in transformation narratives. |
