How did Norman and French traditions influence some tales in the Mabinogion?

In the context of the Mabinogion, the influence of Norman and French traditions is most clearly observed in the three tales known as "Owain" (or "The Lady of the Fountain"), "Geraint and Enid," and "Peredur Son of Efrawg".12

These specific narratives represent a transition from purely native Welsh tales to romances composed under Norman influence. They parallel the French romances Yvain, Erec, and Perceval written by Chrétien de Troyes. While the exact relationship between these Welsh texts and their French counterparts has been a subject of long-standing scholarly debate, these stories are noted for being more sophisticated than the native tales, though they are often described as showing a decline from the directness and restraint found in the older, indigenous narratives.21

Additionally, the courtly settings and the generally courteous behavior of characters in "The Four Branches of the Mabinogi" are considered links to the romance traditions of Chrétien de Troyes, distinguishing them from the more unvarnished ferocity found in other early Celtic literature, such as the Irish sagas.3