Ultimately, two crucial elements needed to be woven into the narrative of the Chant: the recovery of the bodies and the defeat of the enemy. These components were essential for crafting an ending that was not only heroic but also triumphant and glorious. This was particularly significant given that one of the purposes of the epic was to stir up popular support for a new Crusade.
The second part of the song is highly dramatized and introduces a wealth of novelistic elements, diverging significantly from the first part. It focuses on pivotal moments that involve the central characters, Roland and his uncle Charlemagne. The lamentation over the lifeless bodies of the 20,000 heroes and the capture of Zaragoza are critical scenes in this part. Their inclusion allows the poet to reframe the narrative, turning a military defeat into a symbolic victory where the fallen are celebrated as martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Christian cause.
