# Art and Storytelling in Lais

> Theme guide for Lais by Marie de France.

Marie de France reflects on the purpose of her own art in the Prologue, emphasizing the preservation of ancient tales and the moral duty to share wisdom, while the Lais themselves are framed as songs passed down by minstrels.

## Where it surfaces

- [Prologue by Way of Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lais_se/chapters/prologue-by-way-of-dedication): Marie de France emphasizes the importance of preserving and sharing stories, framing her work as a duty to keep the deeds of the past alive through poetry.
- [The Lay of the Honeysuckle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lais_se/chapters/the-lay-of-the-honeysuckle): The lay itself is created by Tristan as a memorial of their love, and Marie de France preserves it through her retelling.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lais_se/themes/art_and_storytelling
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lais_se/themes