Paul Claudel et la modernité médiévale

Penser, écrire et réécrire le Moyen Âge claudélien

Abstract

The ennemies of Claudel have always tried to depict him as a poet of the christian Middle Ages. In their opinion, his medieval inspiration, from Tête d’Or to Le Chemin de la Croix n° 2, could not be modern. But if we consider his complete works, it seems that his vision of the Middle Ages is far more wide that we could think. This period is christian, but far more inclusive. Claudel resurrected many medieval forms and genres, but always mixed them with other literary traditions. Therefore, Middle Ages are not turned towards the past, but towards the future. Indeed, Claudel is far more modern that his contemporaries. That is what we intend to demonstrate in a new essay called Paul Claudel and the Middle Ages, to be published by Champion in March 2022.