I was wondering if anyone knows where the ballad Kemp Owyne originated
from.I know it gave birth to The Laidley Worm Of Spindlestone Heughs,but
when i go in the other direction all i get on the net is about 12 copies of
the same web page saying that FJ Child thought it had similarities with
Icelandic,Danish and German stories.
Heres what i,ve got so far
The Saga of Hjalmter and Olvir which seems to have originated from an
earlier icelandic saga.In this version the maiden is named Vargeisa
Le Bel Inconnu-a French romance by Renaut de Bage,where Sir Gawains
son Guinglain rescues Blonde Esmeree from her serpent form
the fier baiser in Ulrich von Zatzikhoven's "Lanzelot " of the early 13 th
century and other German Arthurian tales
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight which has gawain battling wyrmes and
receiving kisses and
Gawain and Lady Ragnall (the loathesome lady0
I suspect that somehow 12 th and 13 th century Arthurian romances written
in France and Germany mutated into Scotlands Kemp Owyne ballad.
Any ideas?
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