1. The Medieval Romance and Courtly Love
Historical Background

2. Love isn’t the focus!!
A fictional story about improbable events involving characters that are quite different from ordinary people.
A tale of high adventure. Can be:
a religious crusade
a conquest for the knight's liege lord
the rescue of a captive lady
or any combination…

3. Characteristics of a Medieval Romance
Usually idealizes chivalry and the hero-knight and his noble deeds
Settings tend to be imaginary and vague
Mystery and suspense from supernatural elements
Uses concealed or disguised identity
Repetition of the mystical number three

6. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

7. Courtly Love
A code of behavior popular from the 12th to the 14th century.
Set out the rules of conduct between lovers, advocating idealized but illicit love, which fostered an extensive medieval literature based on this tradition.

8. Lancelot and Guinevere

9. Stages of Courtly Love Attraction to the lady, usually via eyes/glance
Worship from afar
Declaration of passionate devotion
Virtuous rejection by the lady
Renewed wooing with oaths of virtue and loyalty

10. Agony of approaching death from unsatisfied desire
Heroic deeds of valor which win the lady's heart
Consummation of the secret love
Endless adventures avoiding detection or DEATH!

12. A Modern Example

13. Attraction & worship from afar…

14. Declaration and Rejection

15. Deeds of Valor

16. Consumation etc.

17. “The Devil and the Three Golden Hairs”
Usually idealizes chivalry and the hero-knight and his noble deeds
Settings tend to be imaginary and vague
Mystery and suspense from supernatural elements
Uses concealed or disguised identity
Repetition of the mystical number three
Courtly love?