Abstract
This paper discusses the imitation of the testament form by medieval poetry, in particular by the lyric poetry in France. Born in vernacular at the end of the thirteenth century as a development of verse sermons called Vers de la Mort, the form of the poetic testament was adapted, in the mid-fifteenth century, to the lyric poetry by the works belonging to the literary quarrel of the Belle dame sans merci, by Alain Chartier. Throughout this period, these two models were parodied by different comic genres, such as burlesque bestiaries, farces and satire. The two long wills attributed to the medieval French poet François Villon are a parody of the entire structure and characters of Testament of Love of the time. It is intended to show that the Lais and the Testament by Villon take a clear position on the side of the detractors of the beautiful lady without mercy in that quarrel, in order to criticize the fickleness of love.
Keywords
Medieval lyric; Parody; Testament of Love; François Villon; The quarrel of the Belle dame sans mercy