Courtly Love

courtly love Noun a late medieval conventionalized code prescribing conduct and emotions of ladies and their lovers (Merriam-Webster)

Troubadours Courtly love came from the French term amour courtois that began with the troubadour poets of Aquitaine and Provence Troubadours coined the phrase in the 11th century Before its rise in the 19th century, courtly love was rarely heard of in medieval literature of any language other than the French poets

The Courtly Lover The job of the courtly lover was to serve and honor his lady in whatever way he could Many courtly affairs were adulterous, seeing as many marriages were the result of business interest during the time “Faithlessness was the mortal sin” (Encyclopædia Britannica) meaning the lover thought he was serving the god of love by honoring his lady-saint

“Romance” Poetry Ballads: aab structure Virelai: AbbaAbba Rondeau: ABaAabAB Many “romance” poems told chivalrous stories of adventure rather than the “romance” we think of today “An Elopement “ or “Lancelot and Guinevere” on an ivory mirror

The Procedure Typical romantic trope of ‘love at first sight’ followed swiftly by every thought being consumed by the lady-saint The man would write poem upon poem (called complaints) using the structures seen on the previous slide Once the lady acknowledged his existence, it was all small gestures from her, a token of some kind, from her and big gestures, like carte blanche (jousting, journeys, and deed) from him

The Secrecy The affair between courtly lovers was kept secret except for a few confidantes For example: Romeo’s friends in Romeo and Juliet are considered confidantes As previously stated, most courtly affairs were extramarital, an even more pressing need for secrecy

In Literature Before it was practiced in reality, courtly love was something of literature where the deeds and gestures could be exaggerated Dante used the aspect of courtly love in some of his writings through Beatrice, his earthly inspiration Seen typically as the knight in love with the princess

Conclusion Courtly love, while seen as romantic, was usually an adulterous, secret thing Not always seen as the knight loving the princess but in chivalrous adventures Troubadours introduced it in the 1000s Didn’t grow in literature until the 1800s Tokens from the lady Deeds and chivalry from the m an Poems upon poems upon poems

Works Cited “Courtly love.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 19 February 2016. www.britannica.com/topic/courtly-love. Accessed 19 September 2017. "Courtly Love." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 19 Sept. 2017. Delahoyde, Michael. “Courtly Love.” Medieval. Washington State University, n.d. public.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/medieval/love.html. Accessed 19 September 2017. Simpson, David L. “Courtly Love.” Chivalry and Courtly Love. Depaul University, 1998. condor.depaul.edu/dsimpson/tlove/courtlylove.html. Accessed 19 September 2017.

Pictures http://public.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/medieval/love.html - Embracing Couple https://www.britannica.com/topic/courtly-love - Lancelot and Guinevere http://sangreality.weebly.com/courtly-love.html - Winged lover http://newyork.carpediem.cd/events/2387172-courtly-love-a-history-at-tarot-society-gallery-reading-room/ - Rose giver