The Song of Roland

Like all works of epic poetry (See: Literary Devices), The Song of Roland’s main concern is establishing French identity and nationhood. Roland develops ideas of French heroism and honor through the figures of King Charlemagne and Roland, his nephew. These characters’ virtues infuse Roland’s narrative with a sense of right and wrong, and work to both celebrate and justify Charlemagne’s expansion into Spain. The poem’s bolstering of Charlemagne’s empire is hyperbolic, falsifying the empire’s borders so that it encompasses all of Europe. The poem’s speaker presents Charlemagne’s invasion as divinely inspired. As angels and other divine beings fight alongside Charlemagne’s army, the poem assures listeners that Charlemagne is the rightful ruler of Spain and the rest of Europe by divine provenance. Meanwhile, the speaker represents the attacking Saracens as disconnected from divine aid.

Roland places attention on the heroic deeds and virtuous behavior of its two main heroes, Roland and Charlemagne. While these characters are based on real, historical figures, the poet embellishes history to glorify the Franks and their deeds. Some of these embellishments, such as the Saracens’ repeated claim that Charlemagne “is over two hundred years old” (Lines 524, 539, 552), appear morally benign.