Virgile travesty

work by Scarron

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July 14, 2026

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Paul Scarron's Virgile travesty is a seven-volume work from 1648–53 that parodies Virgil's epic poem, the Aeneid. Scarron is credited with popularizing the burlesque literary form in the mid-17th century. While it was highly successful in its time, modern readers may find its humor less impactful due to a lessened appreciation for parody. The term "travesty" itself, meaning to treat a noble subject in a trivial manner, was popularized by Scarron's work. This style of writing transforms the original subject through incongruous language and style.12

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travesty
…an imitation of the French Virgile travesty (1648–53) by Paul Scarron. (The use of the word travesty—literally, “dressed in disguise”—in the title of Scarron’s work gave rise to the English word, first as an adjective.) Later the French developed the féeries folies, a musical burlesque that travestied fairy tales.
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…an imitation of the French Virgile travesty (1648–53) by Paul Scarron. (The use of the word travesty—literally, “dressed in disguise”—in the title of Scarron’s work gave rise to the English word, first as an adjective.) Later the French developed the féeries folies, a musical burlesque that travestied fairy tales.
Read More