Sir Orfeo

Sir Orfeo, a romance composed by an unknown Celtic author, was loosely adapted from the classic Greek
story of Orpheus and Eurydice. The earliest Middle English version is found among other tales in the
Auchinleck manuscript, which dates from about 1330-1340 and may have been owned by Geoffrey Chaucer.
On the basis of linguistic studies, Sir Orfeo appears to have been written sometime during the second half of
the 13th century. The tale, its chief version consisting of 602 short lines of rhyming couplets, tells the tale of
King Orfeo, a harp player without equal. His wife, Heurodis, is abducted by the fairy King but Orfeo,
through his harp playing, manages to bring her back to the land of mortals. Among the many notable
differences between the Celtic and the Greek renditions are the setting and the ending: in Sir Orfeo the main
resolution occurs in Fairyland instead of Hades, and the ending is a happy one. Sir Orfeo is regarded by
critics as one of the finest examples of the Breton lay.

BACKGROUND

Sir Orfeo was written so long ago that there is not much known about the origins of the story, but we do
know that it was written in the late 13th century to the early 14th century (“Sir Orfeo”). The story takes a
Celtic view on folklore and combines it with the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus. Sir Orfeo is kept safe and
preserved in three manuscripts, the oldest of these was written in about 1330, the name of the manuscript is
Auchinleck MS (“Sir Orfeo”). While the start of Sir Orfeo describes itself as a Breton Lai it also says that it
is from a text that is called Lai d’Orphey (Sir Orfeo). While we do not know who wrote Sir Orfeo, we do
know that it is an English poem and it is based upon the classic story Orpheus and Eurydice (“Sir Orfeo”).

Sir Orfeo is a Middle English narrative lay written by an anonymous author in the late 13th or early 14th
century. It is a retelling of the story of the ancient Greek Prophet, Orpheus, and his brave quest to rescue his
wife from the Fairy King.

The lay revolves around Sir Orfeo, King of England, in despair of the loss of his wife, Heurodis, after she is
kidnapped by the Fairy King, lord of the Underworld. As such, Sir Orfeo, abandons his court and goes in
search of his wife. He spends ten years in the forest looking for her, until one day he comes across the Fairy
Kingdom and finds her in the castle. He is able to negotiate with the Fairy King and agrees to play music for
the fairy King in exchange for Heurodis. The Fairy King agrees and allows him to leave with Heurodis, and
they return to their court as King and Queen.

The main theme throughout this text is the theme of undying love. When Sir Orfeo, he loses himself. He
cannot rule as King without his Queen by his side, so he leaves the Court in search of her. Despite living for
years in the forest, he never once returns giving up. Indeed, he is eventually successful in finding and
returning to the kingdom with his wife, suggesting that one never gives up in love.
The tale is based around the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, and details the ability to move between
the land of the living and the land of the dead, which is mainly derived from Celtic influences. In her
essay Sparagmos: Orpheus Among the Christians, Patricia Vicar states that the life of Queen Heurodis is
similar to the fates of other Celtic heroines.

The exact dating of the text is still in debate but three preserved manuscripts Auchinleck MS., Harley 3810,
and Ashmole 61 have been preserved and date from the 13th to 15th century.

SUMMARY

Sir Orfeo is a narrative poem about a king named Orfeo and his queen, Heurodis, who live in Winchester.
One morning, Heurodis goes to sleep under an orchard tree where when she awakens suddenly, screaming in
agony. After calling on knights to restrain her, she explains she was visited, in her dreams, by the fairy king
who tells her to come back to the orchard the next day as he intends to take her to faery land. Sir Orfeo,
determined to protect his wife, sends his men to the orchard tree to protect her, but his efforts prove futile as
Heurodis disappears in an instant. Selflessly, Sir Orfeo gives up his duties as king and goes on a journey to
search for his wife. After wandering for 10 years surviving off the land as a forager, Sir Orfeo eventually
arrives at the faery land and finally lays eyes on his wife. He spends years searching for Heurodis in the
forest, and after ten years he spots her riding by with a horde of female fairies. He follows them to their
castle and sees that people who had been dead were alive in this castle. It is here that he spots Heurodis
sleeping gently The Fairy King spots him and questions his presence There he plays his harp to the fairy king
and queen, who are moved by the performance, and they decide to offer him a reward. Sir Orfeo asks for
Heurodis, and despite initially rejecting Orfeo’s request, the king and queen agree to reward him by allowing
him to take Heurodis. However, upon his return to his court, no one recognizes Sir Orfeo as the King and he
is cast aside as a beggar. However, his steward recognizes him and allows he and Heurodis to reclaim the
throne as King and Queen When they return, Orfeo and Heurodis are reinstated as king and queen of their
land and they live happily until their deaths.

CHARACTER LIST

Sir Orfeo

Sir Orfeo is the eponymous protagonist of this poem. The poem begins as Sir Orfeo is despairing about the
loss of his wife, who has been kidnapped by the Fairy King.

Heurodis

Heurodis is Sir Orfeo's wife, who has been captured by the Fairy King. As such, the poem follows Sir Orfeo
as he tries to rescue his wife and return her to safety.

Fairy King
The fairy king is the antagonist of this poem and is the Lord of the Underworld. He kidnaps Heurodis, Sir
Orfeo's wife, while they are visiting an orchard.

The Steward

Once Sir Orfeo returns with his wife he is not recognized by his people. However, one steward recognizes
him and tells everybody about his identity as King.
THEMES
Love
The main theme throughout this text is the theme of undying love. When Sir Orfeo, he loses himself. He cannot
rule as King without his Queen by his side, so he leaves the Court in search of her. Despite living for years in the
forest, he never once returns giving up. Indeed, he is eventually successful in finding and returning to the
kingdom with his wife, suggesting that one never gives up in love.
Death

Death is shown through the land of the Fairy Kingdom. It seems to be a free passage for those living and
dead. When Sir Orfeo comes across the castle he sees many dead people present and he sees his wife
amongst them sleeping peacefully. She sees to be in a state of limbo, not quite alive but not dead either. It is
his negotiation with the Fairy King that allows him to bargain her return to the land of the living.

Loyalty

Loyalty is shown through the role of the Sir Orfeo’s Steward, who takes on his position as the ruler of the
Kingdom in his absence. Indeed, despite being gone for years, and not being recognized as a king but instead
as a beggar, it is his steward who recognizes Sir Orfeo as his King. His Steward is so loyal to him that he
allows Sir Orfeo and his wife to return as King and King, much to the rejoice of the Kingdom.

ANALYSIS

Sir Orfeo is a Middle English narrative lay written by an anonymous author in the late 13th or early 14th
century. It is a retelling of the story of the ancient Greek Prophet, Orpheus, and his brave quest to rescue his
wife from the Fairy King.

The lay revolves around Sir Orfeo, King of England, in despair of the loss of his wife, Heurodis, after she
disappears from a trip in their orchard garden. He realizes that the Fairy King, lord of the Underworld, was
responsible for her kidnap. As such, Sir Orfeo, so in despair, leaves his court in search of his wife. Along the
way, he encounters the mystical present of the Fairy Kingdom and engages with the Fairy King in order to
win his Queen back.

The exact dating of the text is still in debate but three preserved manuscripts Auchinleck MS., Harley 3810,
and Ashmole 61 have been preserved and date from the 13th to 15th century. The tale is based around the
Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, which details the presence of the Land of the Dead, interpreted as the
Fairy Kingdom in this text. It is still considered to be one of the best of the English romances.
SYMBOLS, ALLEGORY, MOTIFS

Sir Orfeo's wife

Queen Heurodis is a symbol of beauty and femininity in the poem, and is described as being "beyond
compare the fairest lady." She is described as being kind and full of "love and gentleness," and is therefore a
symbol of typically "feminine" virtues.

The Hunt

The fairy hunters ultimately fail during a hunt, struggling to catch any prey. This is significant, as it
represents their inferiority to Sir Orfeo, and hints at their loss later in the poem.

Music

Music is a significant symbol in this poem, and ultimately represents the existence of order and harmony.
This is set in contrast to the disorder Orfeo experiences after his life is turned upside down by the kidnap of
his wife. As such, music is represented as a remedy or escape from suffering, and reminder that order can be
created from disorder.

Orfeo's harp

Orfeo's harp is mentioned throughout the poem, and is therefore a key motif. His harp represents his capacity
for human emotion and sorrow, as it is something he uses to process the problems he is experiencing. The
idea of Orfeo as a composer of music also connects him to the idea of creation, which places him firmly at
the centre of this poem as being an almost god-like figure.

Love

Love is another key motif of the text, and is mentioned frequently. At the very beginning of the poem, the
speaker tells us that most poems throughout history are about love. This introduces the main theme of Sir
Orfeo, which is the protagonist's deep love for his wife, and the extents to which he will go in order to save
her.

METAPHORS & SIMILIES

Tears of joy simile

The speaker describes the celebrations after the king and queen are rightfully restored to the throne,
describing "tears of joy" that "fell like rain." This simile describes the movement of the tears down their
faces, giving a visual indication of what is happening.

The Queen's complexion

The queen is described as looking pale, "as though she were dead." This simile is used to describe her weak
and frail appearance after she falls ill.

Empty words metaphor

The Queen uses the phrase "empty words," to metaphorically describe how words are something that can
contain other things. As such, she uses this metaphor to describe how the King's words have no meaning or
reality behind them.

The Queen's death

The Queen's kidnapping is ultimately a metaphor for her death. She is taken by the Fairy King after falling
ill, which symbolizes the end of her life on earth, and her transition to the afterlife. However, Orfeo is able to
save his wife after showing incredible courage and bravery.

The King's Crown

The King's crown is described as being "bright as the noonday sun." This emphasizes the King's affluence
and power, and the fact that his leadership is pure and good.

IRONY

Situational irony

In an example of situational irony, the Queen acts completely out of character after she sleeps in the orchard.
This is something the reader might not expect to happen, due to her previous kindness and calmness.

The life of a beggar

Orfeo is a King; however, after the kidnap of his wife, he leaves the court and essentially lives the life of a
beggar. He sleeps on the ground and lives on what he can forage, which is ironic considering he is a King.

Dramatic irony

When the King returns to his Kingdom, the reader experiences dramatic irony. They know that he is the
King, but his subjects do not.

Returning to the orchard

Despite the fact the Queen has received a message through her dream from the King of the Otherworld, she
decides to go back there. This is ironic as we might expect her to avoid the orchard.

Insulting the King

Despite the fact he is the King, Orfeo receives insults about his appearance when he returns. This is ironic
because those people are actually insulting their King.

IMAGERY
Spring

The speaker describes the springtime using imagery, saying "it was the coming in of May, when gay and
gladsome is the day, banished the chilly winter showers, and every field is full of flowers." This use of
imagery sets the scene of the poem, emphasizing the beauty and the growth of the season.

The Queen's illness

After sleeping in the orchard, the queen becomes very ill, which causes a physical and psychological change
in her. This change is described in the following passage:

"But when she woke, ah me, the change!

Strange were her words, her actions strange;
She wrung her hands and tore her face
Till that the blood ran down apace."

Here, we get a sense of the Queen's changed personality. This imagery of chaos and volatility is in stark
contrast to the relative delicacy and calmness of the Queen before her transformation.

The King's Crown

The King's crown is described using the imagery of affluence, in order to emphasize the King's power and
esteem. For example, it "was not wrought of gold so red, nor of silver, but of a precious stone, bright as the
noonday sun it shone."

The return of the King

When the king returns from his journey, he is described as being disheveled and untidy:

"The man is by hair, as by moss, o'ergrown.

Look how his beard hangeth to his knee!
'Tis e'en as he were a walking tree!"

This imagery describes the King's unkempt physical appearance, which is the result of years of struggle to
find his wife. Ultimately, this is the reason his subjects do not recognize him as first and symbolizes the
suffering endured to save his wife.

LITERARY ELEMENTS

Genre

Chivalric romance

Setting and Context

Springtime during the middle ages.

Narrator and Point of View

The narrator is third-person.

Tone and Mood

The tone of the poem is moving and adventurous.

Protagonist and Antagonist

The protagonist is Orfeo and the antagonist is the fairy king.

Major Conflict

The major conflict is Orfeo's attempt to save his wife from the fairy king.

Climax

The climax of the poem is the return of the king.

Foreshadowing

The Queen's bad health foreshadows her subsequent disappearance.

Understatement

Sir Orfeo perhaps understates how difficult getting his wife back will be.

Allusions

Sir Orfeo himself is an allusion to Orpheus, a figure from Greek mythology.

Imagery

Imagery is used to describe the beauty of springtime when the poem begins.

Parallelism

The qualities and character of the Queen before and after her transformation are paralleled.

Metonymy and Synecdoche

"mortal weed" is used as a metonym for life.

QUESTIONS

What does the Queen's beauty represent?

The Queen is described as being very beautiful; in fact, she is described as being the most beautiful woman
ever seen. In this respect, her beauty represents her value to the King and the fact that he must endure terrible
hardships to get her back. Her beauty also symbolizes her inner goodness and morality, as is often the case in
Old-English poetry.
Why does the poem begin in Spring?

Springtime is often used as a symbol for beginnings and a new chapter. For this reason, the setting of this
poem is appropriate as the King will soon begin his path towards a greater knowledge of himself. As such,
the theme of transformation is reflected by the season.

What does Orfeo's beggar-like state at the end of the poem represent?

The fact that Orfeo essentially looks like a beggar at the end of the text symbolizes the hardships he has
endured. In turn, this also represents his strength and bravery, as he has put his life on the line for his wife. It
also represents his inner-humanity, as the superficial indulgence of his role has been cast off

SUMMARY

THEMES

Sir Orfeo explores the themes of love, devotion, and loyalty.

The theme of loyalty, similar to devotion, is predominant in the story. Orfeo is a man who is only loyal to his
wife, Heurodis, as he leaves his kingdom and everything he knows, to go in search of her. As a result of his
loyalty, Orfeo endures many hardships but it is his love for Heurodis, also known as Eurydice that
emboldens him (“Sir Orfeo”). This love is apparent when, upon her disappearance, he swears, “he will never
look upon another woman” (Krstovic). Sir Orfeo stays steadfast in his love for Heurodis so much so that in
the end, he is rewarded with her return.

LITERARY STYLE

Sir Orfeo belongs to the genre of the “Breton Lai,” also known as a “narrative lay,” and it is a very common
poetic form in medieval French and English literature (“Breton Lai”). A Breton Lais often depict
supernatural elements in a Celtic setting, with a major emphasis on rhyming, love, and chivalry (“Breton
Lai”). While there may have been older interpretations of a Breton Lais, the oldest surviving are those of
Marie de France (“Breton Lai”). These stories were meant to be sung and performed rather than read on the
page; this incorporation of music gives the story itself a greater sense of adventure, conflict, and romance.
Music in the story emphasizes a important aspects of the story such as hope and dedication. Sir Orfeo plays a
harp in the story which helps audiences connect with the rhythm and meter of the poem (Seaman).