Thoughts on Renaut's Use of Marie's Fresne in Galeran de Bretagne

In 1928 Maurice Wilmotte accused Renaut, whom he accepted as the author of Galeran de Bretagne, of plagiarism. He expresses his regret: “Car c’est un gros mot que celui de plagiat, et il faut tourner sept fois sa plume dans l’encrier avant de se résoudre à l’employer. L’accusation est toujours grave” (Wilmotte 3). Today we know that what Wilmotte called plagiarism was more encouraged than looked down upon by Renaut and his contemporaries. Writers delighted in creating variations on known themes, concepts, and words, to compare themselves favourably with, or express their respect for, an admired master. In this case, according to Wilmotte, the authors emulated were primarily Chrétien and Marie but perhaps Jean Renart as well (Wilmotte 6).