Analytical Outlines of Le Roman de la Rose

Outline of primary sections:
0.	Prologue: The dreamer introduces his dream. 1-44 (1-44)
I.	The young man becomes a vassal of the God of Love. 45-4,190 (45-4,220) (Jean de Meun's part of the poem begins with 4,029 (4,059).
II.	The discourse of Reason to the young man. 4,191-7,200 (4,221-7,230)
III.	The discourse of Friend to the young man. 7,201-9,972 (7,231-10,002)
IV.	The conquest of the rose. 9,973-21,750 (10,003-21,780)
Detailed outline:
0.	Prologue: The dreamer introduces his dream. 1-44 (1-44)
I.	The young man becomes a vassal of the God of Love. 45-4,190 (45-4,220)
	A.	He sees and enters the garden of Deduit. 45-688 (45-690)
	B.	He describes the contents of the garden. 699-1 621 (691-1,614)
	C.	He falls in love with a rose. 1,613-1,878 (1,615-1,880)
	D.	He becomes a vassal of the God of Love, and receives his commandments. 1,879-2,762 (1,881-1,778)
	E.	He is unable to approach the rose. 2,763-2,934 (2,779-2,950)
	F.	In despair, he receives advice from Reason and Friend. 2,935-3,338 (2,951-3,356)
	G.	The intervention of Venus enables him to kiss the rose. 3,339-3,492 (3,357-3,510)
	H.	Angered by this, Jealousy erects a fortress around the roses, and a tower in which to imprison Fair Welcome. 3,493-3,908 (3,511-3,936)
	I.	The young man despairs, but remains faithful to his amorous quest. 3,909-4,190 (3,937-4,220)
II.	The discourse of Reason to the young man. 4,191-7,200 (4,221-7,230)
	A.	Reason analyzes the young man's problem. 4,191-4,598 (4,221-4,628)
	B.	She explains the nature of friendship, fortune, and wealth. 4,599-5,428 (4,629-5,458)·
	C.	She discusses justice. 5,429-5,666 (5,459-5,696)
	D.	She urges him to abandon the God of Love and Fortune, and to follow her. 5,667-6,870 (5,697-6,900)
	E.	He rejects her proposal, and criticizes her use of indecorous language; she explains his error in this matter, and departs. 6,871-7,200 (6,901-7,230)
III.	The discourse of Friend to the young man. (7,231-10,002)
	A.	Friend advises the young man how to outwit his enemies. 7,201-7,764 (7,231-7,794)
	B.	He explains the importance of wealth to a lover's quest, and describes his own impoverishment. 7,765-8,226 (7,795-8,256)
	C.	The corruption of love since the Golden Age. 8,227-8,424 (8,257-8,454)
	D.	How a modern Jealous Husband might address his wife. 8,425-9,330 (8,455-9,360)
	E.	More about the jealous Husband, and the bad effect of domination upon marriage. 9,331-9,462 (9,361-9,492)
	F.	More about the Golden Age, and the decline which has followed it. 9,463-9,648 (9,493-9,678)
	G.	Some rules for a lover to follow. 9,649-9,972 (9,679-10,002)
IV.	The conquest of the rose. 9,973-21,750 (10,003-21,780)
	A.	The young man, though pleased with Friend's advice, is still frustrated in his quest, and is rejected by Wealth. 9,973-10,237 (10,003-10,267)
	B.	He mollifies Foul Mouth, and receives a promise of help from the God of Love. 10,238-10,408 (10,268-10,438)
	C.	Love assembles his forces, including False Seeming. 10,409-10,921 (10,439-10,951)
	D.	The discourse of False Seeming to the company of Love. 10,922-11,984 (10,952-12,014)
	E.	The assault begins; False Seeming kills Foul Mouth. 11,985-12,350 (12,015-12,380)
	F.	Love's forces capture the Old Woman, guardian of Fair Welcome, and induce her to give her ward the young man's gift. 12,351-12,709 (12,381-12,739)
	G.	The discourse of the Old Woman to Fair Welcome. 12,710-14,516 (12,740-14,546)
	H.	With the help of the Old Woman and Fair Welcome, the young man is admitted to the fortress and approaches the rose, but he is repulsed by Dangier, Fear, and Shame. 14,517-15,104(14,547-15,134)
	I.	The "author" digresses, and defends his poem against charges of obscurity, indecorous language, and ecclesiastical satire. 15,105-15,272 (15,135-15,302)
	J.	The forces of Love are defeated, and Love calls upon his mother, Venus, for help. 15,273-15,860 (15,303-15,890)
	K.	Nature enters the conflict. 15,861-16,292 (15,891-16,322)
	L.	Genius's discourse to Nature. 16,293-16,698 (16,323-16,728)
	M.	The "confession" of Nature to Genius.
		1.	God's creation of the world. 16,699-16,918 (16,729-16,948)
		2.	The effects of celestial bodies upon the earth and its inhabitants. 16,919-17,070 (16,949-17,100)
		3.	Necessity and free will. 17,071-17,844 (17,101-17,874)
		4	The weather. 17,845-17,999 (17,875-18,029)
		5	Illusions, phantoms, and dreams. 18,000-18,504 (18,030-18,534)
		6.	Comets do not announce the death of kings. 18,505-18,558 (18,535-18,588)
		7.	True nobility is the result of virtue. 18,559-18,866 (18,589-18,896)
		8.	More on comets and other incorruptible celestial bodies. 18,867-18,936 (18,897-18,966)
		9.	Of all God's corruptible creation beneath the sphere of the moon, only man ignores Nature's laws, especially the law of procreation. 18,937-19,304 (18,967-19,334)
		10.	Nature sends Genius to the God of Love. 19,305-19,375 (19,335-19,405)
	N.	Genius's sermon to the host of Love.
		1.	Genius is welcomed by Love and Venus. 19,376-19,474 (19,406-19,504)
		2.	Genius excommunicates the enemies of procreation, and encourages the others to procreate. 19,475-19,808 (19,505-19,838)
		3.	Genius urges his hearers to live virtuously, so as to enter the beautiful park of the Lamb. 19,809-20,006 (19,839-10,036)
		4.	Saturn's castration and the end of the Golden Age. 20,007-20,236 (20,037-10,266)
		5.	Genius contrasts the park of the Lamb with the garden of Deduit. 20,237-20,637 (20,267-20,667)
	O.	Venus shoots a firebrand at the tower, and routs the enemies of Love. 20,638-21,315 (20,668-21,345)
	P.	The young man finally has his pleasure with the rose; the dreamer awakes. 21,316-21,750 (21,346-21,780)

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1. Cast of  Characters in order of appearance
2. Analytical Outlines of Le Roman de la Rose

(Luria, Maxwell. A Reader's Guide to the Roman de la Rose. Hamden, Conn. 1982)

Le Roman de la Rose
The Cast of Characters (in order of appearance)

OLD FRENCH GERMAN ENGLISH PART ONE Amant Träumer/Liebender Dreamer/Lover The Wall Haine Hass Hatred Felonie Bosheit Felony Vilainie Gemeinheit Villainy Covoitise Habsucht Covetousness Avarice Geiz Avarice Envie Neid Envy Tristece Traurigkeit Sorrow Vieillece Alter Old Age Papelardie Heuchelei Pope-Holiness Pourete Armut Poverty The Garden Oiseuse Müßigkeit Idleness Deduit Vergnügen Diversion Cortoisie Höflichkeit Courtesy Leece Fröhlichkeit Joy Biautez Schönheit Beauty Richece Reichtum Wealth Largece Freigebigkeit Generosity Franchise Edelmut Openness Jonece Jugend Youth Dieu d'Amors Gott Amor God of Love Douz Regarz Süsser Blick Sweet Looks Narcisus Narziß Narcissus The Arrows Biautez Schönheit Beauty Simplece Einfachheit Simplicity Franchise Freimut Openness Compaignie Gesellschaft Company Biaus Semblanz Freundliches Gebahren Fair Seeming The God of Love's Gifts Douz Pensers Süsses Gedenken Sweet Thought Douz Parlers Süsse Rede Sweet Talk Douz Regarz Süsser Blick Sweet Looks Bel Acueil Schöner Empfang Fair Welcoming The Guards of the Rosebushes Dangier(s) Widerstand Resistance Jalosie Argwohn Jealousy Honte Scham Shame Peor Angst Fear Malebouche Böser Mund Foul Mouth Raison Vernunft Reason Ami Freund Friend Franchise Edelmut Openness Pitie Mitleid Pity Venus Venus Venus PART TWO Raison Vernunft Reason Fortune Fortuna Fortune Ami Freund Friend Li Jalous Eifersüchtiger Mann Jealous Husband Faus Semblant Falscher Schein False Seeming Astenance Contrainte Erzwungene Abstinenz Constrained Abstinence La Vieille Die Alte Old Woman Nature Natur Nature Genius Genius Genius

Script: Guillaume de Lorris und Jean Clopinel, (de Meun). ©mccxxx / mcclxxv Paris

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