Women are not mentioned often in the Song of Roland. They appear in only seventeen

of almost three hundred laisses. It is because they are included so rarely, however, that the

women stand out amidst the throng of male characters and call attention to the areas of the text

in which they appear. One of the principle woman characters is Queen Bramimionde, wife of the

pagan King Marsile. She plays an important role at the end of the text, becoming by association

the whole of pagandom, and it is only through her that the French emperor Charlemagne can

achieve a true victory over the Saracens.

The first mention of women in the Song of Roland comes in laisse 23, when Ganelon

speaks to Charles: "I well know that I must go to Saragossa;/Whoever goes there cannot hope to

return./Moreover, I have your sister as my wife...." In these lines, Ganelon uses kinship as a

means to link himself to Charlemagne, via the woman. He is in effect communicating his 'last

words' to the emperor and, being reluctant to perform the dangerous task set before him, is

attempting to evoke guilt in Charles. A suitable paraphrase of the lines would be: "Remember

that I am married to your sister, whom

in battle; she is the sole constant pagan character. In laisse 195 she laments: "What will become

Muhammad!/O, noble king, now our men are vanquished;/the emir is slain with such great

Bramimonde's foil, who sold his soul in betraying his country and the Christian God, is now

stave off the "great shame." The lie of her religion is made evident abruptly, however; no sooner

acts as the mirror image of laisse 23--the same idea, just backwards. Note how the mention of

Bramimonde Christened." Thus, both Bramimonde's first and last appearances complete vital

Her attitude changes abruptly when the pagan emir and his army arrive on the scene.

transitions as a whole. By associating the pagans with frequent mood swings, at one moment

Some common words found in the essay are:
Charles Spain, Song Roland, King Marsile, Charles Saragossa/Whoever, Roland Queen, Ganelon Additionally, Queen Bramimonde, Christians/And Bramimonde, Song Roland's, Christened Bramimonde's, song roland, king marsile, laisse 23, laisse 195, laisse 50, laisse 23 ganelon, pagan gods, charlemagne achieve, association pagandom, male pagan, woman characters, achieve true victory, laisse 50 queen, charlemagne achieve true, women song roland,
Approximate Word count = 1441
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)