COURTLY LOVE

1. Began in southern France (11th century)

a. women held sway

b. importance on social decorum

c. troubadours

2. Brought to northern France by Eleanor of Aquitane (1122-1204)

a. in south, she was influenced by troubadour Bernart de Ventadorn

b. in north, she trained trouvere Chretien de Troies

c. Chretien transformed system into Arthurian legends

3. Influenced by Ovid (Ars Amatoria)

and Andrea Capellanus (De arte honeste amandi)

a. courtly love = sensual

b. CL = illicit and adulterous

c. CL = secret

d. CL = not easily attained