Works in Progress with Jodie Miller

Renart li rous: The Physiognomy of a Traitor

The Roman de Renart, an Old French literary cycle composed between the late-twelfth and mid-thirteenth centuries, tells the tale of the fox, Renart, who wreaks havoc on his society through renardie, or foxish and deceitful misbehavior. The first branch, or section, of the cycle recounts how Renart is brought to trial and accused of treason and a tendency towards excessive behavior. As proof of his guilt, the court consistently refers to his red fur. This talk interrogates the connection between renardie and the medieval reception of the rous, the red-headed individual, as a figure connected to treachery and immorality.

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Jodie Miller is a Ph.D. Candidate in the French and Francophone Studies section, specializing in medieval French literature. She is interested in the intersections between literature and society, specifically in understanding social and intellectual developments by looking to literature. Her research focuses on French literature within the European context, as well as its broader relationship to other global regions during the medieval period.