Allusions
This lai makes a number of references to ancient history. When describing the opulence of the fairy lady's lodgings, Marie de France describes them as being superior to those of the Assyrian queen Semiramis and the Roman emperor Octavian. Another example is Guinevere's denouncement of Lanval, which is an allusion to the story found in Genesis 39:7, where the wife of the powerful Potiphar falsely accuses Joseph of trying to seduce her against her will.
"Lanval" is related to two other anonymous lais: "Graelent" and "Guingamor". With "Graelent" it shares a plot structure involving a fair lover whose identity must not be revealed if her love is to be kept.
Read more about this topic: Lanval