Ranulfism is a term used to describe the practice whereby writers of historical novels invent characters (entirely or substantially e.g. creating a character for a name in a historical record of whom nothing is known) and place them at the very centre of real events.
Such characters may be invented relatives, friends or servants of important historical figures, allowing them to know many central characters, be present at important events and act as a narrator (they "just happen" to be in the right place at the right time) and often even become involved in said events to the extent of being instrumental in historical occurrences.
Ranulfism is named after Sharon Penman's invented character Ranulf, an imagined illegitimate son of Henry I of England
Ranulf first appears in "When Christ and His Saints Slept" as a small boy, a much younger half-sibling of the Empress Matilda/Maude.
He proceeds to become involved in nearly every major event in this book and its sequels, even to the detriment (in terms of "air-time") of such characters as Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine!
Ranulf's life manages to be intertwined with Penman's other preoccupation throughout her works - Wales. Even where Wales is highly peripheral to the main action of the story, somehow the writer manages to include it - and making the invented Ranulf half-Welsh, and having him end up with a Welsh woman (his cousin...who also happens to be blind..) ensures its place at the centre of the story, though it is ostensibly meant to be about the royal family of England.
Possible reasons for use of the Ranulfistic device
The attraction of the Ranulfistic character appears to be twofold
* An indulgence on the part of the historical novelist: he is constrained by the known facts about real historical characters, regardless of how much flexibility he has within the novel, but with an entirely invented character the novelist can "play God" and create whatever story he wishes for the character.
* A device by which a "common man" can narrate important historical events, showing emotions such as the reader might feel himself in the same situation e.g. surprise, anger, fear.
Nevertheless, while the above points may make the creation of a Ranulfistic character attractive to a historical novelist, it does have severe drawbacks:
Possible Dangers of Ranulfism
Inaccuracy
We know that the "Ranulf" never existed, therefore he never interacted with the historical characters in the story, and never participated in the events being described.
To suggest that he did is wholly inaccurate, and means that the writer is not making an honest attempt (to the best of his ability) to describe the events as they may have happened. He is instead wilfully creating a "false" character and inserting him into the heart of real events. Consequently, the reader can be absolutely sure that the historical events did not transpire precisely as the writer is describing them.
Misleading
Writers such as Sharon Penman often include an "author's note" at the end of a book to discuss the liberties they have taken with history in order to produce a workable novel. This section would include details of any characters who are entirely fictional.
However, by this stage, the reader has finished an entire book that purports to have a historical basis, thinking that (for example) Henry I really did have a son called Ranulf, and that he was involved in all of these key events.
If the reader does not pay attention to, or forgets about, the author's note, he has now acquired a jaundiced and inaccurate view of the history depicted in the book. This is not a desirable outcome.
Self indulgence
As mentioned previously, the Ranulfistic character is an indulgence on the part of the writer. He can have this individual do anything he wishes, and involve him in any event he chooses.
Nonetheless, the fact that the "Ranulf" of the piece CAN be involved in every story, and CAN be acquainted with, admired and loved by every central character, does not mean that they SHOULD be.
It is not believable that a very central character in a historical story, beloved by everyone, is not real - because then you are not telling the story as it happened. A very important and significant person changes events, or the tone of events, by their existence.
For example, if the Empress Matilda had a favoured younger brother called Ranulf, she might have behaved differently in certain situations. She did not. Therefore, having such a significant invented character changes the story and drives it further away from the real historical story that could have been woven together from known events, known traits of the historical figures etc.
This indulgence on the part of the writer can consequently have a very serious impact on the value of a historical novel.
The writer is partly abdicating from the real responsibility of historical fiction i.e. breathing life into REAL historical characters and dramatising the facts of their lives by weaving said facts with "best guesses" / imaginations of what their lives must have been like, why they did the things they did etc.
In many cases historical fact is far more interesting than fiction. Ranulfism can therefore be highly disappointing to readers who are interested in reading about real characters and events, as where the Ranulfistic character is the focus of the story, the writer is deviating from real history and is "tampering" with real historical characters insofar as they relate to the "Ranulf".
Such characters may be invented relatives, friends or servants of important historical figures, allowing them to know many central characters, be present at important events and act as a narrator (they "just happen" to be in the right place at the right time) and often even become involved in said events to the extent of being instrumental in historical occurrences.
Ranulfism is named after Sharon Penman's invented character Ranulf, an imagined illegitimate son of Henry I of England
Ranulf first appears in "When Christ and His Saints Slept" as a small boy, a much younger half-sibling of the Empress Matilda/Maude.
He proceeds to become involved in nearly every major event in this book and its sequels, even to the detriment (in terms of "air-time") of such characters as Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine!
Ranulf's life manages to be intertwined with Penman's other preoccupation throughout her works - Wales. Even where Wales is highly peripheral to the main action of the story, somehow the writer manages to include it - and making the invented Ranulf half-Welsh, and having him end up with a Welsh woman (his cousin...who also happens to be blind..) ensures its place at the centre of the story, though it is ostensibly meant to be about the royal family of England.
Possible reasons for use of the Ranulfistic device
The attraction of the Ranulfistic character appears to be twofold
* An indulgence on the part of the historical novelist: he is constrained by the known facts about real historical characters, regardless of how much flexibility he has within the novel, but with an entirely invented character the novelist can "play God" and create whatever story he wishes for the character.
* A device by which a "common man" can narrate important historical events, showing emotions such as the reader might feel himself in the same situation e.g. surprise, anger, fear.
Nevertheless, while the above points may make the creation of a Ranulfistic character attractive to a historical novelist, it does have severe drawbacks:
Possible Dangers of Ranulfism
Inaccuracy
We know that the "Ranulf" never existed, therefore he never interacted with the historical characters in the story, and never participated in the events being described.
To suggest that he did is wholly inaccurate, and means that the writer is not making an honest attempt (to the best of his ability) to describe the events as they may have happened. He is instead wilfully creating a "false" character and inserting him into the heart of real events. Consequently, the reader can be absolutely sure that the historical events did not transpire precisely as the writer is describing them.
Misleading
Writers such as Sharon Penman often include an "author's note" at the end of a book to discuss the liberties they have taken with history in order to produce a workable novel. This section would include details of any characters who are entirely fictional.
However, by this stage, the reader has finished an entire book that purports to have a historical basis, thinking that (for example) Henry I really did have a son called Ranulf, and that he was involved in all of these key events.
If the reader does not pay attention to, or forgets about, the author's note, he has now acquired a jaundiced and inaccurate view of the history depicted in the book. This is not a desirable outcome.
Self indulgence
As mentioned previously, the Ranulfistic character is an indulgence on the part of the writer. He can have this individual do anything he wishes, and involve him in any event he chooses.
Nonetheless, the fact that the "Ranulf" of the piece CAN be involved in every story, and CAN be acquainted with, admired and loved by every central character, does not mean that they SHOULD be.
It is not believable that a very central character in a historical story, beloved by everyone, is not real - because then you are not telling the story as it happened. A very important and significant person changes events, or the tone of events, by their existence.
For example, if the Empress Matilda had a favoured younger brother called Ranulf, she might have behaved differently in certain situations. She did not. Therefore, having such a significant invented character changes the story and drives it further away from the real historical story that could have been woven together from known events, known traits of the historical figures etc.
This indulgence on the part of the writer can consequently have a very serious impact on the value of a historical novel.
The writer is partly abdicating from the real responsibility of historical fiction i.e. breathing life into REAL historical characters and dramatising the facts of their lives by weaving said facts with "best guesses" / imaginations of what their lives must have been like, why they did the things they did etc.
In many cases historical fact is far more interesting than fiction. Ranulfism can therefore be highly disappointing to readers who are interested in reading about real characters and events, as where the Ranulfistic character is the focus of the story, the writer is deviating from real history and is "tampering" with real historical characters insofar as they relate to the "Ranulf".
A further example of Ranulfism are the characters of Lucius Verenus and Titus Pullo in the HBO/BBC drama "Rome".
These individuals (who may be based on names that survive in the historical record) have invented lives that place them at the heart of the most significant events in Rome during the period being described. Titus Pullo, rather than Caesar, is even put forward as the true father of Cleopatra's son Caesarion, while Lucius Verenus is painted as a confidante of, and witness to the last days of, Mark Anthony.
It is not believable that two such invented soldiers would become so central to such important events, but this is a device used by the writers to put characters over whom they have full control at the centre of events, and to tell the story through their eyes.
These individuals (who may be based on names that survive in the historical record) have invented lives that place them at the heart of the most significant events in Rome during the period being described. Titus Pullo, rather than Caesar, is even put forward as the true father of Cleopatra's son Caesarion, while Lucius Verenus is painted as a confidante of, and witness to the last days of, Mark Anthony.
It is not believable that two such invented soldiers would become so central to such important events, but this is a device used by the writers to put characters over whom they have full control at the centre of events, and to tell the story through their eyes.
by Welys December 9, 2007
Get the ranulfism mug.Coming from the French Origin. Although there is no known meaning this person is usually a romantic. Most often they are known to be Baseball fanatics. They usually secretly love the Phillies. They are also known to be of ethnic background. They also tend to have Mulberrian roots.
They usually get the attention from girls named Brandy.
They have a intimate love with their cats.
They display feminine emotions from time to time and can be very sensitive.
They usually get the attention from girls named Brandy.
They have a intimate love with their cats.
They display feminine emotions from time to time and can be very sensitive.
Brandy: "I love you, you're so romantic!"
Raulin: "I know, I love my cat. And the Phillies."
Brandy: "What ethnicity are you?"
Raulin: " Half gangster half Mulberrian(country)"
Brandy: " I still love you."
Raulin: "I know, I love my cat. And the Phillies."
Brandy: "What ethnicity are you?"
Raulin: " Half gangster half Mulberrian(country)"
Brandy: " I still love you."
by undercover Brandy lover! August 26, 2010
Get the Raulin mug.Related Words
Raful
• cibeles raful
• rahul
• Raul
• Raffles Institution
• Raoul
• raffle
• rafal
• rawful
• Rafli
Two sexual partners go to get mexican food. Then, because of their uncontrollable bowels they have anal sex. Diarihha sprays onto the man's cock. In his anger he sticks a straw in his ass and puts the other end up the girls nose and sprays more diarihha threw it.
by Emoney627 July 27, 2006
Get the Dirty Raul mug.by Skank Hunter69 March 22, 2022
Get the Rahul mug.The best school ever. 100% recommend. The students there are COOL and SWAG :> (p.s. better than nygh)
by asahiexman March 7, 2021
Get the Raffles Girls School mug.The perfect storm of Darwinian occurences...(see {Melbourne Style})these people wander around at night boozd up on beer looking like the prisoners they are the descendnts of trying to mate.
The women mostly look like men in ugly clothes,the men are better looking but just as irritating with both sexes wearing those ugly square framed fake glasses trying to look smart.... it's not working. The females then wait until the fight or stabbing breaks out and the ugly men-women begin their 'meat raffle' they fall on the bloody stabbed guys and leave with them.The meat raffle begins. The men are running from the cops and will be dragged off by a Kylie to do the nasty...it's th only way they can make new tax payers so the polic lt it occur...terrifying.
The women mostly look like men in ugly clothes,the men are better looking but just as irritating with both sexes wearing those ugly square framed fake glasses trying to look smart.... it's not working. The females then wait until the fight or stabbing breaks out and the ugly men-women begin their 'meat raffle' they fall on the bloody stabbed guys and leave with them.The meat raffle begins. The men are running from the cops and will be dragged off by a Kylie to do the nasty...it's th only way they can make new tax payers so the polic lt it occur...terrifying.
Twas near midnight .There were 2 Kylies and a Chantal readying their car keys for battl when a bloody drunk man was belched out of the brawl. The Melbourne meat raffle had begun. Kylie # 1 swooped in and promised to give the other 2 a ride if they didn't get one...they backed off and the first winner was anounced...
by Sparky9999 January 28, 2010
Get the Melbourne meat raffle mug.The best school in Singapore. The students in Raffles Institution excel in every single field there is, as the line in the school song goes, “To reign supreme in ev’ry sphere”. This school has produced many world-class leaders e.g Mr Lee Quan Yew, who dedicated his success to Raffles Institution and its rigorous all-round education curriculum. If your PSLE aggregate is high enough and meets the demand of the cut-off point of this school, you should definitely place Raffles Institution as your first choice. Trurst me, you will have the most wonderful time in your life studying here at Raffles Institution, in the name of Sir Stamford Raffles.
Person 1: Look at that boy’s Polo T-shirt. It says ‘Team Raffles’!
Person 2: Is that boy from Raffles Institution, the best premier education institution in all of the land?
Person 2: Is that boy from Raffles Institution, the best premier education institution in all of the land?
by RandomRIboy March 7, 2021
Get the Raffles Institution mug.