When approaching an investigation on the elements of courtly love in a piece of literature as for instance Geoffrey Chaucer’s Miller’s Tale, it seems more than reasonable to first of all clarify what the term actually means, i.e. what the focus of study is to be. Consequently, such a clarification constitutes the beginning and also the basis of the examination developed in the course of this paper. It might not be a clarification, however, but at least to a certain extent rather an illustration of the scholarly controversy connected with amour courtois and its English equivalent. Still, ample characteristics of the concept behind the term will be found which are suited to be analyzed in the light of their application in the Miller’s Tale. A preceding brief observation of Chaucer’s Knight’s Tale in the context of this issue is inserted for the purpose of gaining a more differentiated view onto the appearance of elements of courtly love in the second of the Canterbury Tales. A final conclusion will sum up central findings. Since its introduction in the nineteenth century a lot of controversy has surrounded the term amour courtois, as far as its use and necessity are concerned. What are the reasons for such difficulties in finding consent here and what are the various connotations involved in the idea of courtly love? It is by no means possible to thoroughly illustrate all conflicting positions in detail on the following pages, but some significant arguments will be outlined hereafter. A brief look at the development of the notion of courtly love might be helpful in reaching a better understanding of the issue at hand. Where does the term actually come from? When was it developed and by whom? BOASE states that the “term amour courtois was coined by Gaston Paris […] in 1883.” He adds that it is disputed amongst scholars, whether the idea of courtly love is an invention of the Middle Ages.” LEWIS believes that courtly love appeared “quite suddenly at the end of the eleventh century in Languedoc”. He continues that it was introduced by Provençal Troubadours and served as an influential factor in European literature up to the nineteenth century.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Courtly love
2.1. Some theories on the origin of courtly love
2.2. Characteristics of courtly love
2.3. Courtly love in the Knight’s Tale
3. The Miller’s Tale
3.1. Genre
3.2. Elements of courtly love
3.2.1. Alison
3.2.2. Absolon
3.2.3. Nicholas
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This paper investigates the application of courtly love elements within Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Miller’s Tale, contrasting them with their traditional usage in The Knight’s Tale to analyze how they are subverted for comic effect within the fabliau genre.
- Theoretical definitions and origins of the concept of courtly love.
- Comparative analysis between the chivalric romance of The Knight’s Tale and the fabliau style of The Miller’s Tale.
- Examination of character archetypes (Alison, Absolon, Nicholas) in relation to courtly conventions.
- The role of religious imagery and the subversion of sacred ideals for comic purposes.
- Chaucer's use of literary parody to challenge contemporary perceptions of human nature.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2. Elements of courtly love
Elements of courtly love in a genre as the above might be the least a reader would expect to be confronted with. They are in this case, however, used for a specific purpose, i.e. to create a certain comic effect, displaying an obvious contrast to the preceding tale. “Love for the fabliau character is a matter not of the heart, mind, and spirit as it is in the romance, but of the body only.” PEARSALL points out that the “courtly idealism of love, initially a theme picked up from the Knight’s Tale, is present throughout the Miller’s Tale as an implied and ludicrously inappropriate standard of conduct, and contributes much to the richness and exuberant literariness of this most brilliant of the Canterbury Tales.” What had been elevated to the realm of the religious in the language and content of the Knight’s Tale is to a certain degree literally brought back down to very earthly matters. Elements of courtly love are taken out of the context of romance and put into a frame entirely different, where the celebration of a divine-like ideal does not play any role at all any more. In the context of the fabliau their application simply seems ridiculous, contributing to the comic effect of the narrative. A look at central characters of the Miller’s Tale may offer evidence on the matter.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines the scope of the study, clarifying the concept of courtly love and the paper's aim to analyze its subversion in Chaucer's work.
2. Courtly love: This section provides a scholarly overview of the origins, characteristics, and manifestation of courtly love, specifically highlighting its traditional portrayal in The Knight’s Tale.
3. The Miller’s Tale: This chapter analyzes the generic shift to the fabliau and explores how specific characters are used to parody and deflate courtly love conventions through earthly, often lecherous, behavior.
4. Conclusion: The concluding chapter summarizes how the complementary nature of the two tales serves to challenge the reader's perception of human nature and chivalric idealism.
5. Bibliography: A comprehensive list of primary editions and secondary scholarly literature used in the research.
Keywords
Courtly love, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Miller's Tale, The Knight's Tale, Fabliau, Amour courtois, Medieval literature, Literary parody, Chivalric romance, Human nature, Alison, Absolon, Nicholas, Canterbury Tales, Religious subversion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines how elements of courtly love—traditionally associated with noble, spiritual devotion—are integrated into the fabliau The Miller’s Tale to create irony and comedy.
What are the central themes discussed in this text?
The central themes include the generic distinction between romance and fabliau, the parody of religious and chivalric ideals, and the contrast between idealized love and physical desire.
What is the main objective of the author?
The goal is to demonstrate that Chaucer deliberately uses courtly love as an "inappropriate standard of conduct" in The Miller’s Tale to highlight the earthly, animalistic nature of its characters.
Which methodology is employed in this research?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, contrasting the portrayal of courtly tropes in The Knight’s Tale against their usage in The Miller’s Tale, supported by scholarly interpretations.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers the historical development of courtly love theories, its application in The Knight’s Tale, and detailed character analyses of Alison, Absolon, and Nicholas.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include Courtly love, Fabliau, Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, literary parody, and chivalric convention.
How is Absolon portrayed in the context of courtly love?
Absolon is presented as a "satirical target" who mimics the poses and language of a courtly lover, but whose actual effeminate and ridiculous behavior undermines the noble tradition he attempts to represent.
What role does religious imagery play in the parody?
The author argues that religious allusions, such as those found in songs or church settings, are stripped of their spiritual power and used to frame crude, fleshly desires, thereby deepening the comedic effect.
How does the author define the relationship between the two tales?
The tales are viewed as "complementary"; they offer contrasting views on human behavior, ranging from the superhuman nobility of the romance to the subhuman animalism of the fabliau.
Does Nicholas serve as a counter-example to Absolon?
Yes, while both characters use courtly elements, Nicholas' approach is described as more crude and pragmatic, deflating the courtly convention by reducing love to the immediate gratification of sexual pleasure.
- Quote paper
- Fritz Hubertus Vaziri (Author), 2007, Elements of courtly love in Geoffrey Chaucer’s 'Miller’s Tale', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/113294
