1. Courtly Love

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. “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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Works Cited
“Courtly love.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 19 February
Accessed 19 September
2017.
"Courtly Love." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 19 Sept
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.

11. Pictures
- Embracing Couple - Lancelot and Guinevere - Winged lover - Rose giver