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Devinalh

World Traditional Verse Forms

The devinalh, was a genre of Old Occitan lyric poetry practiced by some troubadours. It takes the form of a riddle, or series of riddles or cryptograms and is, if read literally, mostly nonsensical. Known practitioners include Guilhen de Peiteu, Raimbaut of Orange, Giraut de Bornelh, Guilhem Ademar, Guilhem de Berguedan and Raimbaut de Vaqueiras.

Facts
Notable Example
Farai un vers de dreit nien by Guilhen de Peiteu 1
Defining Trait
Takes the form of a riddle, or series of riddles or cryptograms, mostly nonsensical if read literally 1
Partially Attested
Place of Origin
Occitania 1
Source names the genre as Old Occitan lyric poetry; Occitania is inferred from the language and no place of origin is stated.
Connections

Form Of Genre

Lyric Poetry, Genres
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Devinalh
  • Lead, sentence 1
    was a genre of Old Occitan lyric poetry
  • Examples
    Farai un vers de dreit nien by Guilhen de Peiteu, the first known example
  • Lead, sentence 2
    takes the form of a riddle, or series of riddles or cryptograms and is, if read literally, mostly nonsensical
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