ENL-3210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Courtly Love, Celtic Otherworld
Document Summary
As a genre of literature, romance originally referred to anything written in vernacular languages. Not latin, which was used for law, theology, important documents. Geoffrey of monmouth translated from latin to french. Over time, romance came to be a genre with conventions. Most popular vernacular literature in middle ages. Custom and practice of knighthood (idealized and criticized) Overlaps with comitatus but not the same. Equipped with weapons and armor from lord. Allegiance does not swear oath to knights, loyalty is not reciprocated. Hierarchical - king is better than his knights. Vow to uphold justice and redress all wrongs, helping those who need help. Vow to gain and retain a reputation for honor and truth in word and deed. Vow to act with bravery, modesty, court esy (rules of the court) Arthur"s court is symbolic literary center of chivalric law and authority. What happens here is good and right. Married men and women seeking partners they actually like.
