SOURCE: “The Lamp of the Commandment in Aucassin et Nicolette,” in Hebrew University Studies in Literature, Vol. 2, Spring, 1974, pp. 30-72.

In the following essay, Dorfman traces the way in which Aucassin is presented, with his temptations outlined in the Ten Commandments, and argues that Aucassin's adventures in the fantastic land of Torelore constitute his education as a hero—an education necessary for Aucassin to become the “ruler in Israel,” who restores his people to their homeland.

Aucassin, one of the unlikeliest of heroes in the annals of medieval romance, whose stated objection to having his head cut off by his enemies is that he would thereby be prevented from speaking¹ to his beloved, and whose expertise in the art of knightsmanship is exemplified by his toppling from the saddle because he was seated on such a ‘high horse,’² boldly challenges the established religious order by declaring his unequivocal...