After the Battle of Hastings (1066), the descendants of Germanic adventurers, called Normans, took possession of England. They were an extremely adaptable group who took over much of northern France in the early 10th century, where they adopted the French language and its Christian religion. Like the barons who held lands and castles, Norman bishops exercised both political and spiritual authority. In 1154, when Henry II became king, the French territories of the English monarchy (southwest France) were greatly expanded through his marriage to the divorced wife of Louis VII of France. During the reign of Henry II, its court was a center of writing and knowledge (poets, theologians, philosophers and historians). Furthermore, extraordinary opportunities for linguistic and societal conversions arrived in England with the presence of a French-speaking ruling class. During the Anglo-Norman period, French literature dominated Western Europe (Greenblatt 8). The 12th-century Lanval author used the signature Marie de France, which only reveals that her first name was Marie and that she was born in France. She was very engaged in writing and her works depict her as a highly educated, independent noble woman, proficient in Latin, English and French and residing mainly in England. She wrote lays (narrative verse poems) that incorporated the secret and the supernatural. His tales most likely come from oral sources and are the best examples of the genre known as Breton lay. Additionally, she dedicated her works to a “noble king” who would be Henry II since his reign period extended from 1154 to 1189 (Greenblatt 98). The plot of this poem begins with a...... middle of paper ......ais” and mentions that they were much loved and praised (Greenblatt 98). Additionally, she is one of the Anglo-Norman pioneers of the style of writing that eventually became known as romance (Greenblatt 8). What particularly interests me about this play by Marie de France is its striking similarities to the romance and adventure novels I have found. I loved reading as a young adult. So, in addition to the setting of the kingdom, I really enjoyed this Anglo-Norman literature. Marie de France included all the ingredients of a modern-day romantic narrative, except that the time period is medieval, not 21st century. The inner struggles and the end of the story evolve fully around the romantic love between Lanval and his magical mistress. Like a contemporary love story, the story contained references to exquisite physical beauty, courage, mystery, wealth, erotic liaisons and fantasy..