Le chevalier delibere (1483) by Olivier de la Marche has an extensive hermit scene: the hermit receives the author, Acteur, gives him food and drink and instructs him in the important issues of life. Le chevalier delibere thus stands in two main Western European literary traditions: stories about hermits as such (who do or do not provide travellers with food and shelter) and stories in which food and drink have an allegorical function. This paper will discuss both traditions, without attempting to cover all hermit stories or all allegories about food and drink.
