Pilgrim Reindeer in Pisa, 1348 a free multimedia novel by Thomas A. DuBois, University of Wisconsin-Madison

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 Part II. The Hansa Lands and France. 30. Heroes [November 5, 1347]

In this chapter, I continue the contrast between notions of heroism as inscribed in courtly romance and that which one might find from people who had to pay for courtly exploits through tribute and through exposure to unwanted threats and violence. The Sámi notion of heroism was to escape, and, if one was lucky, to disable to destroy the menacing enemy on the sly. Conquest was not regarded as a high ideal. In the end, I wanted Jacques to agree with Bávlos on the fact that stories about poor folk have a place too, even though such stories are not part of the stock-in-trade of a jugleur. In fact, as we shall see in coming chapters, this view is particularly valuable to Jacques, given what he's been through prior to meeting Bávlos...