THE POSITION OF CHRÉTIEN DE TROYES IN THE
ARTHURIAN CYCLE
Source of Chrétien's poems an important problem 54
Professor Foerster's views summarised--The Arthurian legend
partly historic, partly romantic--Latter of exclusively
continental origin 55-56
Reply to Professor Foerster--Arthurian tradition of greater
extent and of wider diffusion than supposed--Evidence for
early diffusion of _romantic_ tradition 56
Necessity of distinguishing between _mythic_ and _romantic_
tradition--Former of strongly marked Celtic-Irish character,
and mainly preserved in _insular_ tradition 56-61
Condition of Arthurian tradition when Chrétien wrote--No
longer purely oral--Necessity for understanding what is
involved in oral transmission--Mr. Hartland's evidence
on this point--The Breton _lais_ folk-lore in character--
Gradual process of Arthurisation--Evidence of _Yvain_--
The process well advanced at the time Chrétien wrote 61-68
Necessity for determining original character of story before
criticising, _i.e._ tales of folk-lore origin demand a different
method of criticism from that applicable to tales of purely
literary invention--Professor Foerster's theory of origin of
_Yvain_ examined and rejected as not consonant with archaic
character of tale 68-77
Proposed origin of _Perceval_ also unsatisfactory, not in
harmony with statements made elsewhere by Chrétien--Strong
probability that the tale, in its completed form, is older
than has hitherto been supposed 78-80
Folk-lore character of _Erec_, _Yvain_, and _Perceval_ probably
an important element in their popularity 81
The varying geography of Chrétien's poems evidence of varying
source 82-83
Probable relation between Chrétien's poems and the Welsh
versions--Resemblance does not necessarily postulate dependence 85
General summary of principles resulting from present
investigation, and their bearing upon position ultimately to
be assigned to Chrétien 86-88