Jean de Meun facts for kids
Jean de Meun (born around 1240, died around 1305) was a famous French writer. He is best known for finishing a very long poem called the Roman de la Rose (The Romance of the Rose).
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Jean de Meun's Life Story
Jean de Meun was born with the name Jean Clopinel (or Chopinel) in a town called Meung-sur-Loire in France. People believe he studied at the important University of Paris.
He was a strong supporter of Guillaume de Saint-Amour. He also openly criticized the mendicant orders, which were groups of religious people who lived by begging. Jean de Meun once said that when he was young, he wrote songs. These songs were so popular that they were sung everywhere in France.
Most of his life was spent in Paris. He owned a house there with a tower, a courtyard, and a garden. After he died, this house was given to the Dominicans, a religious group. Jean de Meun was buried in the church of their monastery in Paris, which no longer exists today.
His Most Famous Work: Roman de la Rose
Jean de Meun's most famous work is his continuation of the Roman de la Rose. This long poem was started by another writer, Guillaume de Lorris. Jean de Meun added a huge part to it, making the poem almost 19,000 lines long! He likely edited Guillaume de Lorris's original work before adding his own sections.
When Was It Written?
Experts believe Jean de Meun wrote his part of the poem between 1268 and 1285. This is because the poem mentions the deaths of Manfred and Conradin. They were executed in 1268 by Charles of Anjou, who was king of Sicily at the time. Some people think the poem might have been written a bit later, closer to the end of the 1200s.
What Is the Poem About?
The Roman de la Rose is a very interesting and sometimes funny poem. Jean de Meun's part of the poem makes fun of many things. It criticizes religious groups, people who chose not to marry, and even the rich and powerful. It also talks about the Pope and kings.
Guillaume de Lorris's original part of the poem was about polite love and manners. Jean de Meun, however, added a section that explored love in a more direct way. He also wrote about how women might trick men and how men could be clever in return.
Jean de Meun's Unique Style
Jean de Meun had a very sharp and questioning mind. He didn't always believe in common ideas or respect old traditions. He wasn't afraid to make fun of the rules of his time.
His poem shows how well he could observe the world around him. He was also very good at thinking clearly and explaining his ideas. Many people consider him one of the greatest French poets of the Middle Ages. He used the French language with great skill.
The poem was very popular in the 1200s and 1300s. This was partly because Jean de Meun included a lot of useful information in it. He knew a lot about science and literature from his time. He also included many quotes from famous classical writers.
Who Disliked the Poem?
Even though it was popular, some people didn't like the Roman de la Rose. Writers like Guillaume de Deguileville and Jean Gerson criticized it. Christine de Pizan also wrote a letter against it. However, the poem also had many strong supporters who defended it.
Translations of the Poem
Parts of Jean de Meun's poem were translated into Middle English by the famous writer Geoffrey Chaucer. The entire poem has also been translated into modern English by Frederick Startridge Ellis and later by Charles Dahlberg.
Other Writings by Jean de Meun
Jean de Meun was a busy writer and translator. In 1284, he translated a book about military strategies by Vegetius into French. This book was called Le livre de Végèce de l'art de chevalerie.
He also created the first French translation of the famous letters between Abélard and Héloïse. A copy of this translation, written in the 1300s, even has notes written by the famous scholar Petrarch.
Jean de Meun also translated a book called De consolatione philosophiae by Boethius. Before this translation, he wrote a letter to King Philip IV. In this letter, he listed his earlier works. Two of these works are now lost:
- De spirituelle amitié, which was a translation of a book by Aelred of Rievaulx.
- Livre des merveilles d'Hirlande, a translation of a book about the wonders of Ireland by Giraldus Cambrensis.
His last known poems are likely his Testament and Codicille. The Testament is written in a special rhyming style. It gives advice to different groups of people in society.
See also
In Spanish: Jean de Meung para niños
