The Romance of the Rose

The Romance of the Rose, or Roman de la Rose in the original French, is an allegorical poem written between the years 1225 and 1278 by two authors, Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun. De Lorris wrote the first three chapters of the work from 1225-1230, and de Meun added nine additional chapters from approximately 1269-1278. Not much is known about either author, but the poem became a foundational piece of medieval literature, particularly within the genre of courtly love, which focuses on men pursuing the love of beautiful noblewomen, usually outside of marriage. The Romance of the Rose describes a young lover’s dream in which allegorical figures like Fair Welcome and Reason help or hinder him in his quest to find the object of his desire—a rose, a symbol for femininity and female sexuality.

Although incredibly popular, some contemporaries criticized the poem’s misogyny and overt sensuality. Nevertheless, it proved to be highly influential in medieval literature, inspiring later European authors like Geoffrey Chaucer.

This guide refers to the 2008 Oxford World’s Classics paperback, annotated and translated by Frances Horgan.

Content Warning: The poem reflects medieval European attitudes toward gender, sexuality, and social hierarchy, which may seem outdated or problematic by modern standards.