The Play of Robin and Marion

work by Adam de la Halle

Also known as: “Le Jeu de Robin et de Marion”

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

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The Play of Robin and Marion is a 13th-century musical play by Adam de la Halle, a French poet and musician. It is considered an early example of French secular theatre and a predecessor to comic opera.12

The play dramatizes a pastoral theme, focusing on a knight's attempt to court a shepherdess named Marion. It incorporates songs and dances, reflecting the popular pastourelle genre, which often depicted encounters between knights and shepherdesses. The work is known for its lively dialogue and musical elements, showcasing de la Halle's skill in both composition and dramatic writing.12

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Adam De La Halle
Jeu de Robin et de Marion is a dramatization of the pastoral theme of a knight’s wooing of a pretty shepherdess, with dances and peasants’ dialogue. Jeu du pélérin (“Play of the Pilgrim”) mocks his friends for forgetting him.
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Jeu de Robin et de Marion is a dramatization of the pastoral theme of a knight’s wooing of a pretty shepherdess, with dances and peasants’ dialogue. Jeu du pélérin (“Play of the Pilgrim”) mocks his friends for forgetting him.
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French literature
Secular drama
…Robin et de Marion (The Play of Robin and Marion), a dramatized pastourelle (a knight’s encounter with a shepherdess and her friends) spiced with song and dance. The first serious nonreligious play was L’Estoire de Griseldis (1395), the story of a constant wife.
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…Robin et de Marion (The Play of Robin and Marion), a dramatized pastourelle (a knight’s encounter with a shepherdess and her friends) spiced with song and dance. The first serious nonreligious play was L’Estoire de Griseldis (1395), the story of a constant wife.
Read More