The Song of Roland 9

Study Guide Questions for Laisses 177-202

If you are looking for the beginning of the study for The Song of Roland then you can go HERE for a brief introduction. At the bottom of the introduction you will find the links to each section of the study guide as it becomes available. If you would like to see the growing list of book studies available for free on this site you can go HERE. Enjoy!

Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)

Sorrow, Prudence, Fear, Religion

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. When Charlemayn and his men reached Roncevaux Pass, what did they find no matter where they looked?

2. What did “Naimon the Duke” advise Charlemayn to do?

3. What request did Charlemayn make to God in prayer?

4. Concerning the Paynims, what does the text say that “their gods took notice” of?

5. What is the name of Emperor Charlemayn’s sword and what unique qualities does it have?

6. Who guards the emperor as he sleeps?

7. Describe briefly the Emperor’s two dreams.

8. What did the Paynims do with their gods when they returned to Saragossa? 

9. Who arrived to bring aid to Marsile and what did he swear an oath to do?

10. What is the state of Queen Bramimond when the two messengers arrive at Saragossa?

11. What did King Marsile say he would give to the one who came to bring him aid?

Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)

1. Why did Charlemayn order men to guard the battlefield where Roland and his men laid dead when those men would have been helpful in the coming fight?

2. What does the text mean by saying, “Happiest is he who promptly gets his throatful”?

3. Why did Charlemayn “post no sentinels” the night after the battle?

4. What is meant by the statement, “He that has suffered learns many things in life.”

5. Why does the angel Gabriel show Carlon (Charlemayn) the two dreams? What does each dream mean?

6. Why did the Paynims “pound” and “trample” their “god”?

7. Why did the Emir take so long to come to Marsile’s aid?

8. Why did Queen Bramimond say, “Why is there no one to slay me?”

9. Why did the messengers from the Emir tell Queen Bramimond, “Lady, bridle your tongue awhile”?

Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)

1. One of the elements of the Progymnasmata (exercises to prepare students for Rhetoric) is Narrative. What is a narrative? Where do we see a good example of giving a narration in this present reading?

2. In The Song of Roland we have seen that both Roland’s and Charlemayn’s sword contain “relics” of the Christian faith. Based upon the context of the story how would you define what a “relic” is? Do you think Christians should collect relics? Why or why not?

Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1. Read Joshua 10:1-15. What connection does this passage have to our current reading? What can be inferred, both in biblical history and in our story, from the fact that God grants the request that is made?

2. Read 1 Samuel 5:1-12. What connection might be made between this passage and our current reading?