Abstract

This article focuses on the technique of "autonominatio" in the poems of Occitan troubadour Marcabru (ca. 1125-1150). The essay considers the distinctive features of the verbal and pronominal structures of Marcabru's "vers" and examines the social context of his poetry taking into account the passages in which the name Marcabru appears: where does Marcabru name himself? to which social group does he address? to which social group does he declare to belong? Thanks to this enquiry, we propose a new interpretation of some "vers", based on the difference between the textual 'I' and the persona designating himself with the name 'Marcabru'. Moreover, we present some new hypothesis concerning the social context of the troubadour's poetical activity.