1) The lack of a formal prologue is quite important in this case. It means that either Chrietien is playing games, and pretending he does not actually know the out come of the story, meaning that as the author he does not want to forshadow or given even the slightest clues about what may or may not happen in the text; or that our King might not have a fully passionate love. Normally the prologue would tell the reader about the tragedy that is about to unfold, about the love between two people nad how great it is. With out one, the reader could guess at the fact that maybe our King will have many loves, none of them being as spectacular or long lasting as Erec and Enide's. Maybe he will just contiune through the book, searching yet never finding his true love. Maybe he will never fully be inprisoned, as the text so admiringly refers to love as.
2) Calogrenants story is indeed an odd one. It was placed in this book so that the knights would have a worthy quest to go on. It is actually a very odd story because parts of it make no sense. By accidentally following this little path, he is able to see a hideous bird. I wonder what is the significance of this horrifyingly ugly creature. Also, by pouring water from a spring on to a rock, he is able to produe a very horrible storm, and surviving it makes him valiant. I do not quite understand this, although the fact that he can beat out nature, surviving the storm, may be a good reason to make him a nobel knight. But what does he really win? other than being heroic?
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