The Main Characteristics of Courtly Love
1. The poet sings the joy of his love, which is an exalted feeling.
2. He praises and extols the woman he loves, who is superior and can
be approached only with veneration and restraint.
3. Love is a passion that affects the lover's body and soul and tends
to unbalance him (love-sickness). Points 1-3 are sort of general and could
be made about love poetry in many different cultures. What gives medieval
"courtly love" its peculiar character is the following:
4. The lover becomes his lady's servant. Her love must be difficult
to obtain, and he must prove his valor and faithfulness. The relation between
lady and lover is envisioned, often in the poetic imagery used as well
as in manuscript illustrations, as a transfer of the feudal relationship
between lord and vassal (homage). NB: In the early nineteenth century,
Italians still cultivated a very similar relationship in which the male
lover became the "cavaliere serviente" of a lady, usually not his wife.
Notice the medieval wording.
5. The effect of this love is that the male lover becomes ennobled
in his whole being, including his fighting power, social mores, and moral
and religious attitudes. "Courtly love" thus becomes the force that generates
courtliness or courtesy.
6. In some cases, this ennoblement is caused by the very thought of
the beloved lady.
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