Zusammenfassung
In Chrétien de Troyes, focalisation constitutes a rich narrative element that is used in a highly calculated way. Throughout Chrétien’s oeuvre, there is evidence of strategically employed changes of focalisation (paralipses) that go hand in hand with the characters’ speeches and the representation of their thoughts and feelings. This contribution demonstrates that Gérard Genette’s features of focalisation are by no means only applicable to the novel of the 19th century. Chrétien also uses focalisation techniques to elicit certain narrative effects, such as suspense, by restricting the point of view to the unsuspecting protagonist. At the same time, it becomes obvious that Chrétien occupies a special position within medieval literature more generally.