Courtly love embraces a beautiful lady, married or unobtainable, who was the object of love for a knight. In general courtly love was secret and between man and woman of noble status and it was not practiced between husbands and wives. Such relationships did not exist in real medieval life. Marriages were mostly arranged and women were seen as property to their husbands. It was more an “available fiction which informed the cultural climate, much as the wider conventions of chivalry did” (Rudd 2001:33).
This is a relatively vague definition of the topic of courtly love and it only summarizes the most important points. This paper will work out the origins and the meaning of courtly love more intensive, watching its first origins and its appearance in the Romance of the Rose, and it will mention and describe every important characteristic. These characteristics will be a guideline to show Chaucer’s treatment of the topic in his work The Canterbury Tales. Elements of courtly love appear in the Prologue, the Knight’s Tale, the Merchant’s Tale, and in the Franklin’s Tale. These elements will be shown and explained.
Finally a conclusion will summarize the most important points.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The origins and meaning of courtly love
2.1 First origins of courtly love
2.2 Courtly love in the Romance of the Rose
3. Elements of courtly love in the Canterbury Tales
3.1 The Prologue
3.2 The Knight’s Tale
3.3 The Merchant’s Tale
3.4 The Franklin’s Tale
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography
Objectives and Themes
This academic paper aims to examine the manifestations and variations of "courtly love" within Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales". It explores how traditional conventions of medieval romance, originally established by troubadours and codified by authors like Andreas Capellanus, are reflected or adapted in Chaucer’s selected tales.
- Historical evolution of courtly love traditions
- Theoretical foundations of medieval chivalry and romance
- Literary analysis of the Knight’s, Merchant’s, and Franklin’s Tales
- Comparison between rigid courtly codes and Chaucer’s narrative application
- The role of the "lady" and the "lover" in medieval literature
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 The Knight’s Tale
The Knight’s Tale is the story holding the most characteristics of courtly love out of the Canterbury Tales. Both lovers, Arcite and Palamon are knights and they are of noble blood (Chaucer 2003:30). Arcite is getting very famous at the court of Athens, to be nearby his lady and to get her favor (Chaucer 2003:41). And both characters do a huge deed of prowess, to get the love of Emily, when they fight against each other (Chaucer 2003:72-74). Arcite and Palamon are “splendidly arrayed”, and “equal in their worth” when appearing at the battle (Chaucer 2003:72). Arcite is merry and joyful when he is singing (Chaucer 2003:43), and both men show feats of arms (Chaucer 2003:73). A lover should array himself with elegance and should be merry and joyful-these are two of the qualities of a courtly lover, out of the Romance of the Rose.
The character of Emily follows the ideal too, as Dodd states (236). She is described as beautiful and fresh, with long yellow hair, and radiant and serene (Chaucer 2003:31, 32).
The love the two men hold for Emily is secret and furtive, because they are prisoners and Emily does not even know them. Her beauty causes the love of Arcite and Palamon. At first Palamon is getting a sight of her and starts crying because his love is waken up and he knows that she never can reciprocate for he is a prisoner (Chaucer 2003:32). After Palamon told him this, Arcite is also watching Emily and is hurt by her beauty too (Chaucer 2003:33). From this point of time the lady gets the position of superiority in respect to them.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: Outlines the definition of courtly love as a medieval literary convention and defines the scope of the investigation regarding Chaucer's work.
2. The origins and meaning of courtly love: Traces the historical development of courtly love from 11th-century French troubadour poetry to the formal doctrines of Andreas Capellanus.
2.1 First origins of courtly love: Details the societal context of the troubadours and the influence of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Chrétien de Troies.
2.2 Courtly love in the Romance of the Rose: Examines how Guillaume de Lorris integrated earlier courtly theories into his allegorical narrative.
3. Elements of courtly love in the Canterbury Tales: Evaluates Chaucer’s utilization of established courtly love characteristics across specific segments of his work.
3.1 The Prologue: Identifies courtly attributes present in the descriptions of the Knight and the Squire.
3.2 The Knight’s Tale: Analyzes the most prominent display of courtly love, focusing on Arcite, Palamon, and Emily.
3.3 The Merchant’s Tale: Discusses the adulterous and secret aspects of courtly love between Damian and May within the context of an arranged marriage.
3.4 The Franklin’s Tale: Explores the conflict between courtly ideals and matrimonial fidelity through the characters Aurelius and Dorigen.
4. Conclusion: Synthesizes how Chaucer adopted and modified the literary tropes of courtly love rather than following them as a rigid set of laws.
5. Bibliography: Lists the primary and secondary sources consulted for this research.
Key Words
Courtly Love, Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer, Chivalry, Troubadours, Romance of the Rose, Andreas Capellanus, Middle Ages, Medieval Literature, Knight, Adultery, Secrecy, Prowess, Chretien de Troies, Medieval Ideal
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this paper?
The paper examines the conventions and literary characteristics of "courtly love" and explores how Geoffrey Chaucer incorporates and adapts these elements within specific tales of "The Canterbury Tales".
Which historical influences are discussed?
The work covers the influence of 11th-century French troubadours, the romantic literature of Chrétien de Troies, the codification by Andreas Capellanus, and Guillaume de Lorris’ "Romance of the Rose".
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine how "courtly love" functions as a guideline in Chaucer's work and whether his usage aligns with or departs from the strict, formal rules of the tradition.
What methodological approach is used?
The research employs a qualitative literary analysis, comparing the established principles of the courtly love system against the narrative behavior of characters in Chaucer's tales.
Which sections of "The Canterbury Tales" are analyzed?
The analysis focuses on the Prologue, the Knight’s Tale, the Merchant’s Tale, and the Franklin’s Tale.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Relevant keywords include courtly love, chivalry, medieval literature, Chaucer, troubadours, and romantic ideals.
How does the Knight’s Tale exemplify the courtly code?
It displays the classic attributes: the knight’s noble blood, the pursuit of a lady (Emily), deeds of prowess, secret suffering, and the lady’s position of superiority.
What is unique about the Franklin’s Tale in this study?
The study highlights how the Franklin's Tale challenges the code, specifically through Dorigen’s firm commitment to her husband, preventing the fruition of the lover's (Aurelius) courtly efforts.
How does the Merchant’s Tale differ from the others?
The Merchant’s Tale portrays the illicit, adulterous, and secretive nature of love more explicitly, aligning closely with the darker, hidden aspects of the courtly love tradition.
- Citar trabajo
- Cindy Härcher (Autor), 2011, Courtly Love in the Canterbury Tales, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/194020
