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Pastorela

World Traditional Verse Forms

The pastorela was an Occitan lyric genre used by the troubadours. It gave rise to the Old French pastourelle. The central topic was always the meeting of a knight with a shepherdess, which could lead to any of a number of possible conclusions. They were usually humorous pieces. The genre was allegedly invented by Cercamon, whose examples do not survive, and was most famously taken up by his (alleged) pupil Marcabru.

Facts
Partially Attested
Place of Origin
Occitania 1
Source names the genre as an Occitan lyric genre of the troubadours; Occitania is inferred from the language and no place of origin is stated.
Notable Example
Pastorelas of Marcabru 1
Defining Trait
Central topic is the meeting of a knight with a shepherdess 1
Connections

Form Of Genre

Lyric Poetry, Genres
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Pastorela
  • Lead, sentence 1
    was an Occitan lyric genre used by the troubadours
  • Lead, sentence 5
    most famously taken up by his (alleged) pupil Marcabru
  • Lead, sentence 3
    The central topic was always the meeting of a knight with a shepherdess
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